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A CRUISE IN 



CHINESE WATERS. 



A CRUISE IN 



CHINESE WATERS 



^etng f^e ^og of '"g^e ^orfuna.' 



CONTAINING TALES OF ADVENTURE IN FOREIGN CLIMES 

BY LAND AND SEA. 



CAPTAIN AUGUSTUS F. LINDLEY, 

author of " 'ti-ping-tif.n-kwoh,' the history of the ti-ping rlvol ution, 
"Theodore's case," &c. &c. 



FOURTH EDITION. 



Cassell, Petter, Galpin & Co. 

LONDON, PARIS <S- NEW YORK. 



>4'^^ 



THE LOG 



CONTAINING THE FOLLOWING TALES— 

PAGE 

THE SCHOONER SKIPPER'S YARN. 

"An Adventure on the Yang-tse-Kiang." A Perilous Exploit in 

China 30 

THE MERCHANT'S YARN. 

" Le Pont Neuf." A Tale of Paris . . . , . . . .59 

•MY FIRST YARN. 

" The Ghost on board the ' Imogene.'" A Legend of the Sea . . 83 

THE DOCTOR'S YARN. 

"Stuck Up." An Adventure with Australian Bushrangers . .115 

THE YARN OF THE MATE OUT OF A BERTH. • 

" Caught by Chinese Rebels." A Strange Story of China . . 143 

MY OWN YARN, 

"The Black Pirate." A Tale of the Sea 197 

THE SCHOONER SKIPPER'S SECOND YARN. 

" Captain Dobson's Revenge." An Adventure in the Sea of Azof . 234 * 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



View on the Creek . 

Shanghai ...... 

The "Fortuna" at Shanghai . 
Creek where the Crew were found . 
Fart of French "Concession," at Woo-Sun 
Our "Lowder" and his Wife at Opium 
The " Fortuna" Ashore . 
Spinning our Yarns .... 

The " Queen Mary" 

Bush Island and Mouth of the Yang-tse 

Ki^Tig 

Pawn-Pein-Shan, or the " SpHt Hill' 
Se-she ...... 

Se-she' comes to warn us . 

The Last Resling-Place of Frank and Se-she 

Cha-Pu Bay . 

" \Ve drifted on" . 

The Gendarmes 

Adele . . . . 

The Assassins . . . , 
Eli Boggs .... 

"Friday" .... 

The Ghost on board the " Imogene' 

The Creek I Discovered . 

Shooting Rice-birds . 

Where the Doctor passed the previous Night 



PAGE 

Frontispiece. 
I 



9 
15 
19 

22 

25 
27 

30 

32 
33 
36 
39 

53 
57 

71 

77 
78 
86 
90 

97 
loS 
III 
117 



A Dance for Life 

Entrance of the Bushrangers 

Cooper's Creek. 

The Bush Path 

The Rice-Planters ... 

The "Small Foot" naked, and in its 

The Old Fishtr.nan . 

The Rebel Chief 

The Bay .... 

A Female Rebel Officer . 

The Last Search for Traces of the W 

Our Position on the River 

Princess Wan-Mei . 

Swatow ..... 

Mouth of the Creek . 

The River Yu-Yaou . 

Our Fishing .... 

The Strange Sail oif Madagascar 

View in the Interior of Madagascar 

Repulse of the Black Pirate 

The Last Headland . 

The Lighthouse off Taganrog 

The Greek Captain . 

The Xebec in Hiding 

The Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter 

The Last of the Mud-bank 



shoe . 



reck , 



PAGE 
121 
I2S 

140 

141 

142 
148 

155 
159 

162 

163 
167 
179 
183 
187 
191 

I9S 
198 
201 
217 
222 
237 

245 

249 
253 
255 



%* The pirvious Editions of this Work were published wider the title of 
"The Log of the Fortuna." 




SHANGHAI. 



A CRUISE 



IN CHINESE WATERS 



'* Change, sir ; change, or death ! " So, without beating about the 
bush, said the doctor, one burning morning at Shanghai 

I was suffering from a multipHcity of complaints — rheumatism, 
fever, and ague, not to mention a pleasant suspicion of dysentery. 
I felt, therefore, that the verdict was a true one, and began to curse 
that obstinate, roving disposition of mine, which had led me, in the 
first place, to forsake a comfortable home and a dear wife in England, 

33 . 



The Log of the Fortuna. 



in order to see after property at Manilla, left us by my wife's late 
uncle, when an agent would have done as well ; and which, in the 
second place, induced me to take a trip to China, pending a long and 
tedious progress of business through the Manilla courts, during which 
I was not required to appear in person, 

I felt bitterly annoyed to think that I had given up so much in 
order to lay my bones in China — that distant, out-of-the-way, out- 
landish, barbarian country : that remote empire where the compass 
points south instead of north ; where men wear petticoats and women 
wear trousers ; where they shave the head instead of the chin ; where 
pockets are worn outside instead of inside the dress ; where bed- 
rooms are on the ground floor instead of up-stairs ; where the men 
wear pigtails, but cut off their pigs' tails ; where shoes, umbrellas, 
and lanterns are made of paper ; where wooden anchors are used for 
ships, which are built with square instead of pointed bows ; where 
etiquette commands people to put on the hat instead of take it off; 
where they write with a paint-brush instead of a pen ; where they 
pray to devils much more earnestly than to gods ; where rank and 
title, instead of being hereditary, is retrospective, and ascends to a 
man's great-grandmother, &c., instead of descending to his suc- 
cessors ; and where, in fact, not to write a volume of the contrariness 
and difference to European taste and custom, everything is grotesque, 
upside-down, and entirely opposed to western civilisation. 

I fall back in bed and grievously reflect upon all these things ; 
and at every twinge of my rheumatism — which, by the way, is captain 
and leader of my other maladies — life and prospects seem to grow 
blacker and blacken 

" Boy ! boy, you rascal !" I at last yell. 

Several moments elapse, and then that charming youth puts in 



The Log of the Port una. 



an appearance — charming youth, indeed ! whose chief characteristics 
are determined obstinacy and preternatural cunning. 

" What ting wantchee, master ? " 

The villain's tone is not, perhaps, the most humble, not the 
most civil in the world, for, in his own mind, he has long ago 
given me up as sure to die, and merely keeps up an appeai'-ance 
of docility. 

" Boy ! Doctor talkee, * S'pose mi no walkee from Shanghai mi 
must die ; ' which place more better go ? " 

Boy gravely considers, and at length maketh reply — 

"■ Pootung." 

Now, " Pootung" is that low slab of black mud on the other side 
of the river, and immediately opposite Shanghai settlement, of which 
it is the "Surrey side." There, when poor " Jack" dies, he is con- 
veyed, cased in four deal planks, and laid in the cemetery which 
flourishes inland, green and damp, amidst the waving, watery rice- 
fields. So green is that thickly-tenanted cemetery that it suggests a 
fertility unpleasantly accelerated. 

If sarcasm could lurk beneath that stolid exterior, I should have 
called Assam's answer a masterpiece; but I hardly think it can. How- 
ever, taking care to be on the right side, I almost dislocated my best 
arm by throwing an enormous boot at his head — missing him, of 
course. Once more I resign myself to meditation, and chew the 
cud of sweet and bitter fancies — only, alas ! they are all bitter. 

I had mentallycompleted a very fair disposition of my worldly goods 
and effects, till only one revolver remained. This fire-arm (patented by 
some tremendously long- named German, and wonderfully ornamental 
in appearance, but altogether unserviceable) had distinguished Itself on 
several occasions by discharging the whole six chambers at once, and 

B 2 



The Log of the Fortuna. 



Avas, in fact, almost certain death to the person firing it. I naturally 
wished to leave it to some very particular friend, and was thinking 
over a list of them, when I became suddenly startled by a terrific 
voice resounding in the courtyard of my domicile. 

"Assam !" it roared. Then a momentary interval elapsed, and 
the voice bellowed forth again. "Boy! you thundering thief!" &c. 
<&c. (You see, most Anglo-Saxons seem to consider that a little 
vituperation in the national vernacular is always effective with people 
of African or Asiatic race.) " Boy I where is your master ?" 

Then boy, somewhat aghast at the wealth of the English 
language in abuse, ushers in my old friend Esmond — he of the 
fair-haired, Saxon physique, the sturdy limbs, and the loud-toned voice. 

"Skulking again!" roared he (for, sailor-like, he always seems 
to imagine that he is hailing some distant maintop, and speaks in a 
corresponding key) — " skulking again, are you ?" 

This large, cool presence, with its ponderous health and strength, 
almost maddens me with jealousy. I scowl, but answer not. Bless 
you, he does not care ; not he ! 

" Well, old fellow, how are you ? Where's the brandy ?" (I 
make a motion with my finger.) " Ah ! thank you. Don't stir, I 
have it. And the water ? That's right. Boy, bring your master's 
best cigars — that big box in the corner. Poor devil !" (Esmond now 
intended to be soothing), " he won't live to smoke them, and " (here 
the brute thought to be witty, and pointed to the ground with one fat 
finger containing almost as much blood as the whole of my body) 
"down there they smoke all the time — for nothing. Ha, ha, ha!" 
Witty fellow ! 

"Well," continued he, when his manilla was fairly alight, " I'm 
off to-morrow. I have a good charter for the schooner — a cargo to 



The Log of the Fortuna. 



Ningpo, and a few friends of mine intend joining for a cruise, as I am 
thinking of taking a roving commission for a spell." (At this moment 
his eye lighted on that big boot, lying where it had fallen after missing 
my amiable Celestial's head.) " Ah, by-the-bye, those long boots of 
yours fit me to a T. I'll just tell your boy to put them into my 
boat, shall I ? " 

" Yes, certainly ! Sing out for him," I reply. 

Boy arrives, trembling at the yet thrilling vibration of Esmond's 
mighty tones, and I say — 

" Look here, Assam. Pack my portmanteau. Get one case of 
brandy, one barrel of beer, my double-barrel gun, rifle, duck-gun, and 
revolvers, and put them all into Mr. Esmond's boat. Then go down 
town, catchee one piecee cask of soda-water, and make chin-chin your 
smallo piecee wifo, for one moon or so. Qui, qui (quick, quick), now! 
And, boy, put those too muchee large piecee boots in the sanpmi 
too." (" I shall want them to shoot in," I explain to the astounded 
Esmond.) " Ah ! and that medicine ! take it to that piecee doctor 
man, Mr. Jones" (the friend to whom I had determined to bequeath 
the elaborate German revolver), " with my best compliments, and he 
may find it useful." 

Then I sit up in bed, and grin horribly at the awe-stricken 
Esmond, who thinks, I am sure, by the peculiar expression of his 
great, good-natured countenance, that my vitality is having a feeble 
little flickering before total extinction ; then I groan out, " Ho ! for 
the Forttma, and a yachting cruise." 

" Well ! " he at length managed to ejaculate, " I need not say how 
heartily welcome you will be ; but, my dear fellow " (and I saw two 
large tears, one glistening in each corner of his large blue eyes), " my 
dear fellow ! do you think that you will live to get aboard ? " 



The Log of the Fortuna. 



Dear old Esmond ! He was a warm, open-hearted fellow, though 
he did ask for my boots. Alas ! he had seen so many dear friends 
breathe their last in that undermining, diabolical Chinese climate, that 
such things had become quite every-day events, and ?ie seemed, with 
his unassailable iron constitution, to be destined to bury all who 
knew him. 

In the cool of the evening my boy duly announced that a sedan 
was in waiting. Boy is not very amiable in manner, for his Celestial 
understanding plainly telleth him that this yachting trip will most 
materially interfere with those little plans that he had cunningly 
formed with regard to my valuables, in case of my death at Shanghai. 
I suffer myself to be carried out and placed in the conveyance. The 
bearers — during the half-hour they waited in the court-yard — have, 
with Chinese ingenuity, been minutely discussing my chances of life. 
I can see it by their looks — by the twinkle in their little oblique black 
eyes. They are perfectly acquainted with the nature of my ailments, 
and bump me twice as much as they would have done had I not been 
such a martyr to rheumatism. I think they are seeking a secret sort 
of patriotic revenge for the capture of the ** Summer Palace" at Pekin. 
They also covertly grin to each other, and improvise an unusually 
melancholy dirge as they trot me away down the hmd. 

On that broad promenade we meet many acquaintances, and 
more than one pale-faced lady, sauntering languidly along in search of 
cooling breezes from the river, but finding, I fear, only warm puffs of 
heavily-laden air, redolent of dead drowned Chinamen who daily float 
down with the tide. 

Arrived at the jetty, abreast of which the good schooner Fortuna 
lies moored, Esmond lifts me out of the chair into his sanpan (lit., 
three planks), or sculling-boat, which boat resembles nothing in the 



The Log of the Fortuna. 7 



world so much as half a walnut-shell, except, indeed, a whole one, 
when the mats that form the awning are drawn close over. 

By a series of sickly rolls or plunges we fetch alongside the 
schooner, and I am hoisted on deck. 

" Welcome aboard the Fortuna,^^ cries Esmond. 

His vessel is as dainty a little clipper as one could wish to set 
eyes on ; black, sharp, and rakish in hull and spars ; clean and spot- 
lessly white about her decks. She is heavily armed, too, with a couple 
of pivot eighteen-pounders, and a twelve-pounder bow-chaser on the 
forecastle. 

Crawling down into the cabin, I pass on the way a very 
elaborate pantry ; and a glimpse of what it contains seems to enliven 
me. I see cases marked " Mar tell," "Hennessey," *' V. H. D.," 
" Crosse and Blackwell," " Fortnum and Mason," " Moet," " Bass," 
*' Guinness," &c. &c. &c. ; also, cunningly-shaped bottles suggestive 
of schnaps and " cock-tails," burly hams and sweet-smelling sides of 
English bacon ; whilst the pleasant sound of lively poultry is wafted 
to my ears, and follows me, as with an outcry against my intended 
consumption of chicken-broth, to my sick couch on the transoms. 

Some dozen highly-polished " Enfields" are ranged round the 
cool, Indian-matted cabin. The skylight admits a refreshing se 
breeze, just beginning to blow up the river ; above all — before 
all — suspended to the upper deck beams, hang two red, porous, 
clay " chatties," which I well know contain water — cool, delicious, 
icy water. 

As the evening advanced, I began to feel better than I had 
done for many a day. The change from the hot, dry, parched, and 
comfortless shore, to the cooling, pleasant life on the water already 
had its effect. As the time drew near at which Esmond expected 



8 The Log of the Fortuna. 

his friends to come on board, I induced him to place a stuffed silk 
mattress, covered with Madras matting, under the quarter-deck awn- 
ing ; and upon this luxuriant couch I sank down with a sigh of 
satisfaction, like some worn-out, sensual old Turk, 

Assam, still with a lowering sulkiness in his looks, brought 
" brandy pawnee," and aromatic cheroots, with a large piece of slow- 
burning scented "joss-stick" glowing on a tray. 

It is a cool, clear, beautiful night. For the first time I admire 
Shanghai. Its many lights on the shore-line, the gleam of the moon 
on the white walls of its houses, the looming of the Chinese-built> 
fantastic-shaped Custom House, the shaded tracing of the numerous 
vessels all around, the pleasing sound of the infinitely various-toned 
ship-bells striking in every direction as each half-hour arrives, are all 
objects that a thoughtful observer cannot fail to appreciate. 

Regularly our old Manilla quartermaster paces the deck and 
strikes the sweet-toned bell. Esmond and I quaff grog, and yarn, and 
grow quite sentimental. The sparkling stars, or worlds, shining down 
upon us from their distant homes, myriads and myriads of miles away 
in that blue, illimitable, boundless space above ; the stately ships, 
floating so strongly, so buoyantly upon that gurgling tide, and soon to 
bear far away to the uttermost parts of the earth precious freights 
from the groaning storehouses of that vast emporium ashore, where 
Commerce — that mighty king — is gradually drawing the most oppo- 
site races nearer together in the bonds of universal brotherhood, by 
slowly, silently, but still surely, introducing the effect, if not the actual 
practice and principle, of Christian civilisation — these were subjects 
sufficiently attractive to produce the feast of reason and the flow of 
wit. I rather think that most of the talking fell to my share, for good 
old Esmond was far more matter-of-fact than imaginative, and could 



The Log of the Fortuna. ii 

discuss the trim of a ship far better than he could understand the 
enunciation of an abstruse metaphysical problem, or comprehend the 
formidable thesis of some terribly learned and dogmatical theologian. 
As for his knowledge of the physical sciences, he knew how to work 
his vessel's reckoning, and he knew that a rock was a hard substance 
— harder than v\^ood — to be carefully avoided by those who went 
down to the sea in ships, and saw the wonders of the deep. 

Suddenly the quartermaster broke in upon my enthusiasm by 
gruffly hailing an approaching boat — 

" Boat, ahoy ! 

" Halloo ! " came echoing back a still rougher and more sailor- 
toned reply. 

" What boat is that .? " cried the quartermaster. 

" Passengers coming aboard," roared a voice that excelled even 
Esmond's, and which made the latter exclaim — 

" I'll be keelhauled if that is not old Jack Backstay !" 

The next moment the sanpan grated alongside, and a stout, 
short, thick-set, brawny figure came up the side, hand over hand, 
rolled up to us, and, seizing my friend by the hand, roared out — 

" Well, Esmond, my boy-ee ! what cheer, what cheer ?" 

I at once found out where my friend had derived his habit of 
stentorian shouting from. This was Jack Backstay, and Jack Back- 
stay had been chief mate of every ship in which Esmond had served 
his apprenticeship to the sea. After this old-fashioned specimen of a 
thorough British mercantile marine officer had brought himself to an 
anchor by our side, he explained the circumstances to which we were 
indebted for his visit. He had lately arrived in Shanghai, had left 
his ship, was now out of a berth, and having heard of the intended 
pleasure trip, came off to join in it, being sure of a hearty welcome 



12 The Log of the Fortuna. 

from the boy he had himself made " a man and a sailor " — as he was 
fond of saying. 

Two pale-faced individuals followed Mr. Backstay up the gang- 
way ladder, the first being Dr. O'Kilorkure, who no sooner reached 
the deck than he thrust his head over the rail, and sang out — 

"Hoy! you sanpan man, bring up that case of instruments. 
Take care ! take care you do not drop them, bad luck to ye ! Sure, 
now, you'll be afther losing thim ! " 

Up came a Shanghai boatman, carefully carrying the doctor's 
case : fine fellows, those Shanghai watermen — strong, muscular, 
hard-working fellows as one could anywhere find, but terrible rogues, 
though, as a rule, if kindly treated or well acquainted with any exiled 
European, faithful and true to the backbone. 

Eagerly grasping his instruments, the doctor came aft. I had 
never seen him before, and, being sick, I must confess my wishes 
were that I mig^ht never see him aofain, I knew at once that the 
man was almost a monomaniac at least, and that his mania was 
amputation. He was a tall, bony, sanguine-complexioned, genuine 
Irishman, 

Slowly, leisurely, and languidly the last passenger came over 
the gangway. He was a man of dollars, of hearty English style, but 
of great liver, and sickly appearance. That mighty dollar ! How 
many noble spirits become contaminated, how many patient friends 
at home become desolate evermore, through the blind infatuation 
of those who will not return to their native land with what they 
have made, but who struggle against ill-health and a sickly climate, 
till death comes to end their useless toiling; for more ! more ! more ! 
Where are the limits to human ambition and desire ? Alas ! that 
Pootung Cemetery gives a mute but ghastly sarcastic reply. 



The Log of the Fortuna. . 13 

Mr. Lawrence had a large mercantile concern, any amount of 
credit among the Chinese native merchants, and was quite rich 
enough to have retired to England with a comfortable competency ; 
but to every friendly remonstrance replied, " Oh, the mail after next, 
the mail after next, I shall certainly go home." They say, " to- 
morrow never comes." Certainly Mr. Lawrence was a living verifica- 
tion of the adage. The next mail never came, to my knowledge ; 
but I feel sure that he must have had some good reason for wishing 
to increase his wealth, for he was a kind, earnest philanthropist. 

Our party of five Avere soon upon the most intimate and friendly 
terms, quaffing our grog — at least, I was not, for one glass formed 
my allowance — smoking our fragrant manillas, yarning of home, and 
friends, and happy days, and well-known scenes far, far away, to which 
we all felt a strong hope that we might some day return. I cannot 
exactly say how it was, but certainly the glances of that Hibernian 
medico seemed to make me get better. I felt morally persuaded 
that if the fellow only once heard me complain of a pain in my leg 
or arm, his native blarney would convince my friends, and I should 
perforce become a subject for his horrid pet knives and saws. For- 
tunately for me, Dr. O'Kilorkure was a great talker; he was very 
fond of hearing the sound of his own voice ; and every one was 
really charmed to listen to his flowing, bright, impassioned eloquence. 
His was a singular case of mistaken vocation ; he should have been 
a leader in the House of Commons at least. 

January 1st. 

The sea log of the Foj^huia commences this day. 
About 5/2. a.m. my boy brought me a strong cup of cofiee, with a 
petite verre of cognac — a wise precaution in a cholera country. A few 



14 The Log of the Fortuna. 

minutes later Esmond's roar from his state-room on the starboard 
side of the cabin informs me that we are about to get under weigh. 

From my coign of vantage beneath the awning I complacently 
survey this proceeding. Old Jack Backstay is pacing to and fro the 
quarter-deck as though he had just relieved the officer of the watch 
on board his own ship — so strong is habit, especially with an old 
salt ; if, as Mr. Backstay used to say, " they have nothing else to do 
and can't sleep," they are sure to be taking that circumscribed but 
interminable quarter-deck march. As for our two long-shore 
companions, they are still fast asleep in their berths below. 

The capstan is manned, and we commence heaving in our chain 
cable. The good Chinese mariners, our crew, do not seem to believe 
in hard work, so, in spite of Esmond's long legs and arms — which 
fly about in a manner almost miraculous — it is a slow business ; so 
slow, indeed, that we just manage to lose the tide, and, by some 
mysterious means, an anchor also. The day is wasted in futile 
attempts to recover the lost anchor and cable. Sunset approaches. 
We quietly let go another bower, pay out thirty fathoms of chain, 
and make all snug for the night. This our tars had evidently 
foreseen, and are therefore by no means disconcerted. 

yanuary 2nd. 

Our seamen are away in the small boat, looking for the buoy 
attached to our lost anchor and cable. So long do they stay 
that Mr. Backstay shrewdly observes he is inclined to think the 
bight of the chain has drifted into an opium-shop ashore. Upon 
communicating his fears on the subject to our host and captain, the 
latter thinks it more than probable. He sends his boy ashore to look 
for them, and, after several hours' search, the latter returns on board 



The Log of the Fortuna. i*j 



with the information that he had succeeded in finding them comfort- 
ably bestowed, and smoking opium at the opium-shop upon the banks 
of the strange little creek shown by the accompanying illustration. 

About 6k. p.m., the crew return, calm and collected one and all,, 
and vow that they cannot find the cable. Esmond wishes to know 
"why?" They smile placidly, and "don't know." Esmond waxes 
vicious. The crew get more and more composed ; they don't say, 
but they evidently memi, "don't care." Esmond kicks them all round 
for lying and skulking. 

8/2. p.m. — Tremendous row forward. Manilla quartermaster 
gives me his arm ; then Esmond and myself proceed to the scene 
of action, expecting to find murder and sudden death at least. Are 
disappointed. It is only A-sing abusing A-look, A-look's father, 
mother, grandfather, grandmother, and whole line of ancestry, from 
the very first down to the very last. A-look retaliates. The friends 
of one party curse friends of other party, and other party's fathers, 
mothers, and ancestors. But there are neither blows, nor any 
probability of them. Esmond administers sundry hard knocks and 
kicks, with language to match, and there is peace — for a time, the 
.row being resumed at intervals during the night. Indeed, they 
wake up about every two hours, abuse each other with revigorated 
energy, and then go to sleep again. Evidently they must have 
either eaten or imbibed something which disagrees with them. 

yanuary y^d. 
This day we formed and set the watches, " ship-shape and 
Bristol fashion," as our weather-beaten friend. Jack Backstay, said. 
Esmond and myself composed the starboard watch ; Mr. Backstay 
took charge of the port, which included the two landsmen. 



t8 The Log of the Fortuna. 

It is my pleasing duty to record the fact that our seamen made 
quite a Sabbath of this day also ; returning, after dusk, satisfied but 
unsuccessful. A Chinese swell, one of the owners of the cargo, 
came on board at 9/^. p.m. This good person understands his 
countrymen better than we do, for he ought to have been on board 
two days ago, but assures us he was quite sure that the schooner 
would not get away at the time advertised, as such would not be 
" Chinese fashion " — to do anything in a hurry, I presume. This 
gentleman is partial to cherry brandy, and finishes two bottles of 
that liquid without apparent effort. 

January ^th. 

Esmond sends the two Manilla quartermasters in the boat with 
the crew, and in an hour they return with the end of the cable. 
We get the anchors up, and then commence dropping down to 
Woo-sung, at the mouth of the Shanghai river, eleven miles 
distant. It is wonderful with what skill the Chinese manage this 
operation, though not without their favourite noise. 

6h. p.m. — Arrive at Woo-sung. A large Shantung wood junk 
being anchored close astern, we hail her crew to shift her helm. 
They won't. We foul her. This does not at all discompose our 
lowder (Chinese captain) ; he calls for an axe, gives three chops on 
the grass cable of the junk, and that vehicle, released from restraint, 
floats gently away down the river, without her crew seeming the 
least aware of what had happened. This incident is so purely 
Chinese as to cause no remark. 

January ^th. 
Esmond gives orders for the preparation of a great dinner, 



The Log of the Fortuna. 



19 




PART OF FRENCH "CONCESSION," AT WOO-SUNG. 

as (he says) it is his birthday. I am indined to think that my 
friend's birthdays are pleasing hallucinations, for, to my certain 
knowledge, he has had as many as six in one year. Almost as 
bad as my boy Assam, whose mother (rest her soul !) has expired 
seventeen times since he entered my service — a melancholy event, 
necessitating the granting of several days' leave for him to attend 
the funeral ceremonies. I have no doubt — if he is fortunate — that 
the old lady will die seventeen times more before he leaves me. 

Another Chinese incident is noted this day. The cook comes 
aft with a deplorably lugubrious expression of countenance, and in 
his out-stretched hands we see three of his master's fowls, which he 
declares, in a most painfully solemn and sorrowful manner, he found 
dead in the hencoop. He wishes to know what shall be done with 

c 2 



20 The Log of the Fortuna. 

them. Esmond orders them to be thrown overboard. I watch. 
Cook slyly takes them to his friends, the crew. Upon investigating 
the matter we discover that those gentry had done the wretched 
birds to death by boring their heads with a pin, well knowing that 
the " Yang-quitzos " {i.e.^ "foreign devils," the polite generic term 
for all Europeans and people outside China) will not eat anything 
that dies a natural death. 

Noon. — We go ashore, Esmond and I. Nothing very remark- 
able about Woo-sung, except that the French tricolour waves over the 
" Joss-house ; " and the town — which commands the river — seems to 
be in the occupation of a strong detachment of Chasseurs d'Afrique, 
sturdy specimens of whom roll about the streets in a state of vinous 
excitement, and knock down, if they do not rob, after the usual 
manner of those placid warriors whether in the territory of friend or 
foe, any inhabitants unfortunate enough to get in their way. There 
is something up at Woo-sung ; ten years more, or less, may see the 
French claim it as their own. A great deal might be said about 
the peculiar policy that nation is pursuing in China. They have 
inserted the thin edge of the wedge of occupation in more than 
one of the treaty ports — to wit, Shanghai, Ningpo, Cheefoo. We 
pretty well know that m La belle France there is a long-headed 
carpenter who wields the hammer. The French, be it observed, 
prefer the word " concession " to the word " settlement " in the 
matter of land not their own. 

H.M.S. . Bound in. We dip our ensign, but the naval 

grandees, with a courtesy truly British, make no reply, and take no 

notice of us. 

yanuary 6tk. 

^Ji^ ajn. — Up anchor. Make all sail, and stand out to sea 



The Log of the Fortuna. 21 

with a fair wind. Slight swell on. As a consequence, our non- 
nautical passengers, as well as the native charterers, are in a state 
necessitating the presence of the steward, who rushes to and fro, 
holding white ampJiom. Our unfortunate friends have not got their 
sea-legs aboard, and are holding on "by their eyebrows." With every 
lee-lurch they utter doleful sounds ; with every weather-roll they 
fetch way and sprawl about ; with every plunge they seem like to die. 
As for the charterers, we must except them from the comforts of the 
cabin. Being Chinese, they retire to the lower regions, and are ill, with- 
out comfort or attendance. The schooner is lively, and our two friends 
are rolling and floundering about in the midst of every movable article. 
Beds, blankets, boxes, packages, basins, glasses, &c., are flying around 
them, whilst over all prevails the odour of brandy and sea-sickness. 

I am greatly improved in health, able to enjoy my dinner, and 
laugh at the hapless landsmen. 

^h. p.m. — A very suspicious-looking native craft works up from 
under our lee, until she gains the weather-gage of us, and then dodges 
quietly along on our beam. We depress one of the eighteen-pounders. 
Charterer, between violent attacks of nausea, swears it is a pirate, and 
implores us to fire. We do not. In a little while the stranger puts 
her helm hard up, and goes dead away to leeward. She was only a 
pirate having a " look see," and must have discovered that we were 
a customer with ugly big teeth. 

8/1. p.m. — Esmond, enveloped in a shaggy monkey-jacket, with 
a bottle of brandy, a brace of revolvers, and unlimited comforters, 
goes on deck to keep the first watch. 

Midnight. — Esmond, with a remarkably red nose, calls me, and 
I turn out and go on deck, the sickness of our friends having altered 
the arrangement of the watches. 



22 



The Log of the Fortuna. 




OUR "LOWDER ' AND HIS WIFE AT OPIUM. 



January ytk. 

ik. a.m. — It appears that I had just dozed off to sleep in 
my watch — the schooner, for all purposes of navigation, being in 
the hands of the Chinese lowder — when I was suddenly aroused 
by the noise of the anchor being let go, and the sound of the 
cable whizzing out " at the rate of knots." Presently, however, a 
Chinese bend, or fastening, about four feet in circumference, catch- 
ing in the hawse-pipe — which is only a foot wide — snap goes the 
chain, and another anchor (with some twenty fathoms of cable) is 
added to the treasures of the deep. 

The lowder, good man ! preserves his equanimity, lets go the 
other anchor, lowers the mainsail, and proceeds to his virtuous couch, 



The Log of the Fortuna. 23 

his wife (whom he is allowed to have on board), and his opium 
pipes ; impressed, no doubt, with the serious conviction that he has 
done his duty like a (China) man. 

I take the bearings of the headlands in sight, and find that we 
are very nearly upon a nasty mud-bank. Chapu and Hang-chow lay 
west of us ; off both places the tide runs like a sluice, sometimes at 
the extraordinary velocity of ten knots an hour ! As the schooner 
was yawing about in a curious manner, I gave her a sheer with thv. 
helm ; then, finding that she rode more quietly to her anchor, went 
below to turn in ; but, before doing so, placed one of the Manilla 
quartermasters on the look-out. 

I had just gone comfortably to sleep, -when the noise of heaving 
in cable awoke me. I rushed on deck, to find the anchor off the 
ground, and two large boats, under sail, standing towards us from the 
shore. Our Chinese mariners were hailing these boats, and, as I 
knew they were not to be trusted, I sang out for Esmond. Directly 
he appeared we beat to quarters. Our fighting force consisted of 
five Europeans and two Manilla men : these latter may have been 
good men and true, but, I am free to confess, they looked very much 
like superannuated Greenwich pensioners, who had been embalmed 
in coffee-grounds and dug up when wanted. 

We cast loose the after gun, and gave the nearest boat a dose 
of grape-shot without any preamble. Hardly had the report died 
away when splash went our anchor once more. The schooner gave, 
whilst swinging, a terrific bump, and we knew that we were ashore. 
As for the supposed pirates, we see that they are flying, with the 
proverbial insect in their ear. We load again, nevertheless, and look 
round for the Celestial portion of our crew. They have vanished 
below, permitting us either to do the fighting or leave it alone, one 



24 The Log of the Fortuna. 

thing only being patent to their limited capacity — viz., that it is not 
Xki^vc pidgin (business) to bark or bite. 

Esmond is not naturally of the most gentle temperament, and 
this last proceeding of his mariners — though strictly in accordance 
with the precepts of one Dr. Watts — provokes his wrath. He 
descends to his cabin; reappearing with a keen-edged, two-handed 
Japanese sword. I arm myself with a revolver ; the Manilla quarter- 
masters have their knives ; and, leaving our three friends in charge 
of the deck, we go forward to drive up our recreant crew, not 
knowing but what some treachery might be afloat. Most of them 
return pretty quickly to the deck, though not all, so Esmond dives 
down below, flourishing his deadly weapon. One unfortunate, either 
more obstinate or less active than his compeers, fails to follow them. 
Him Esmond chases ; both uttering startling yells. At last the 
pursuer, in an unwary moment, puts his foot into a deep hole and 
falls, giving the terrified Celestial time to reach the upper regions. 
The Manilla men view him gloomily, muttering sundry carrambas 
but not doing anything desperate, being themselves of a rather 
dilapidated, not to say antiquated, build, and scarcely up to any 
violent physical exertion. 

Esmond soon follows his late antagonist, who, seeing danger 
still looming, covers himself with his quilt, and flies aft so swiftly 
that the skipper relinquishes all further idea of catching him and 
inflicting exemplary punishment. 

The crew are certainly sulky, but we soon restore discipline. 
Unavailingly, we try every means to get the schooner off the mud- 
bank. I must again record my admiration of the resigned behaviour 
of the whole body of Chinese seamen — from the lowder to the 
smallest boy. 



The Log of the Fortuna. 



25 




THE "fortuna" ashore. 



3^. a.m. — Tide falling. Water rapidly shoaling. No more sleep 
for us this morning. Daylight breaks, and we find ourselves in a 
curious position. On the starboard hand there is mud, on the port 
hand there is mud ; mud ahead, mud astern ; below is mud ; and 
a muddy-coloured sky is frowning above. Water there is, in muddy 
little rivulets — the ocean, no ! 

The ebb tide has left us high and dry indeed, the sea in this 
place retiring in a body. But a few moments before there was water 
enough to float us, and now there is not enough to swim a lucifer- 
match. 

But though water is scarce, there are plenty of fishermen about 
— strange parties, wild-looking and long-haired. Gaunt athletes, 



26 The Log of the Fortuna. 



whose sinews and muscles would not have disgraced a Roman amphi- 
theatre ; and their clothing being of the airiest, we have an excellent 
opportunity to judge. Here and there they have a small canoe, but 
they are principally paddling about on the mud, wearing a curious 
kind of shoe, which enables them to glide along the slippery surface 
at a great speed, and carrying long, narrow-bladed spades, with 
which to dig up worms, shell-fish, edible roots, and other things 
peculiar to Chinese mud. Those who come near are civil, for they 
notice the seven " foreign devils " (the Manilla men, despite any 
small physical infirmity, being counted as bona fide " Yang-quitzos " 
by the natives) ; but if only one white man had been on board the 
Fortuna, the night dark, and the vessel in serious trouble, how 
would they have behaved ? I can guess — somewhat piratically and 
murderously. 

At breakfast this morning we discuss our position. The 
lowder, the charterers, every Chinaman on board, all declare that it 
will be impossible to get the schooner off for four or five days to 
come, until higher tides set in. There is no help for it, so we make 
ourselves contented ; organise shooting parties, for the shoals and 
indentations along the coast abound with wild fowl ; retain several 
of the amphibious fishermen with their canoes, so that we can go 
fishing, and, in fact, do all we can to enjoy ourselves — to eat, drink, 
and be merry. 

January Zth. 

This day I propose that we shall relieve the singing, card- 
playing, smoking, and imbibing, wherewith we pass the long 
evenings, by story-telling, or rather, to be nautically correct, by 
spinning yarns. Esmond and the rest applaud the idea, and cheer- 



The Log of the Fortuna. 29 

fully respond to it. Kind reader! may we hope that you will do 
likewise ? It was settled that we should commence our tales that 
night, and that Esmond, as host and captain, should lead off. We 
agreed that each of us should spin a yarn, and it was arranged that 
Mr. Lawrence should follow Esmond on the second nieht, I on the 
third, Dr. O'Kilorkure on the fourth, and old Jack Backstay on the 
fifth, by which time we hoped to be clear of the mud-bank ; but, 
should that not prove to be the case, as I had started the story-telling, 
and it was a thing more in my way than in my friend's, it was further 
arranged that I should tell a second tale. 

Promptly as the bell struck eight that night we all assembled 
round the cheerful stove in the after part of the cabin. The great 
swinging lamp was sufficiently removed to give just the sort of 
subdued light most pleasant, and which neither overpowered the 
thought -inspiring, dull red flashes proceeding from the glowing 
embers, nor the tall, fantastic shadows dancing and playing with 
such silent but contented humour all around. The darkest corners 
of the cabin seemed full of sporting little imps ; and those shadowy 
forms, giving life to our wooden walls, might well have been taken 
for an assemblage of orderly spirits of the air, anxious to hear our 
yarns. 

The punch being brewed, the box of fragrant manillas placed 
near at hand, and our five selves comfortably stretched around, in 
easy-chairs, on sofas, or the soft-cushioned transom lockers, Esmond, 
after a few preliminary observations, began his yarn, which was no 
other than the narration of an adventure he had himself experienced 
in China. 




THE "QUEEN MARY, 



€f)t ^tijoomv J>feipper*s; garn* 



AN ADVENTURE ON THE YANG-TSE-KIANG. 

A PERILOUS EXPLOIT IN CHINA. 

My Queen Mary was a smart little lorcha of one hundred tons burden, 
and, shortly before the great river, the Yang-tse-Kiang {i.e., the "Son 
of the Sea," as the natives have poetically named it), was opened to 
foreigners by the jealous Government of China, I was foolish enough 
to venture on a trading trip up its almost unknown, and comparatively 
unexplored waters. 



An a dventure on the Yang-tse-Kiang. 31 

If the dangers of such a voyage were great, the profits, we knew, 
would be proportionately large. We were tired of the Ningpo and 
coasting trade, at which we could now scarcely make the expenses of 
our vessel ; and so, altogether, pocket overcame prudence, and away 
we went, bound for the rich, unknown, and therefore tempting regions 
of the Yang-tse-Kiang. 

Besides myself and partner, Frank Travers, who owned half the 
lorcka, our crew consisted of Hans, an immensely powerful Dutch 
mariner whom we had shipped as mate ; Ramah, a native of Madras, 
engaged as a sort of J ack-of- all-trades, or supernumerary, to increase 
our strength in foreigners ; my Chinese servant, or boy, aged fifty, or 
thereabouts, properly named A-yow, but more generally known as 
the "Angel " (to be read " ironical," as Artemus Ward would have 
said), a sobriquet to which the positive ugliness of the poor fellow 
had given rise some years before, when I, his master, chanced to be 
in a playful and sarcastic humour at the time of engaging him ; and, 
lastly, the Queen Marys comprised our Chinese lowder, or captain, 
and twenty of his countrymen as sailors. 

These tars and their long-tailed leader had been strongly 
recommended to me by native merchants, friends of mine, at Shang- 
hai, who knew them well, and had often employed them on river 
voyages ; thus, naturally enough, despite our experience of the 
treacherous Celestial nature, we thought that they could be de- 
pended upon. In the sequel it will be seen how greatly we were 
mistaken, how nearly we lost both vessel and valuables, and how 
narrowly any of my party of foreigners escaped with life. Even at 
this lapse of time, I can hardly think of that one dreadful night, on 
which occurred the terrible adventure I am about to narrate, without 
feeline a sort of shudder at the recollections awakened. 



32 



The Log of the Fortuna. 



I must now mention an important fact — a circumstance, indeed, 
that eventually proved the preservation of myself. The lowder 
brought on board with him a daughter. This was much against the 
wish of Frank and myself; but then he would not come without her, 
and, sooner than lose the chance of shipping him (so unusually good 




BUSH ISLAND AND MOUTH OF THE YANG-TSE-KIANG. 



were his recommendations), we yielded, and even allowed the 
Mys-ter-le — Chinese carpenter — to fit up a little private cabin for 
her use. 

The very fact of the old fellow's evidently strong attach- 
ment to his motherless daughter gave us a good opinion of his 
character. 

Sailing up the " Son of the Sea " was at this time a venture of 
no little risk, for its numerous branches, creeks, and lakes were 
known to be pretty thickly infested with both pirates and Imperial 
war-junks, between whom there existed but little difference, in so far 



An a dventure on the Yang-tse-Kiang. 35 

as plundering propensities and murderous proclivities were concerned. 
Some few miles within the embouchure of the mighty Yang-tse- 
Kiang, and where, leaving Shanghai, we enter upon it abreast of Bush 
Island, that magnificent river is at least twenty miles straight across 
from bank to bank. In fact, except on fine clear days, the northern 
shore cannot be discerned from Bush Island. Then, immediately 
upon entering the river, we were cut off from all communication 
with friends, and were thrown entirely on our own devices and 
resources ; moreover, pirates or war-junks could attack us at dis- 
cretion, for we had no right upon the Yang-tse-Kiang, the treaty of 
Tien-tsin, which gave the authority, not being yet thought of, unless 
indeed in the brain of some clever diplomat, busy brewing at the 
war cauldron. 

Nevertheless, having gone unscathed through many a perilous 
adventure both by land and water in that strange Celestial clime, we 
laughed to scorn the fearful prognostications of friends at Shanghai ; 
besides, the trim Queen Mary was very well armed, carrying two long 
twelve-pounders as pivot-guns amidships, besides six carronades of 
the same calibre, three on either side, and a plentiful supply of 
ammunition and small arms. 

The early part of the voyage proved highly prosperous and 
remunerative. 

The river scenery was magnificent, as the accompanying sketch 
of Pawn-pien-shan, or the " Split Hill," will show. This wild and 
picturesque spot is at the commencement of the mountainous part of 
the river, four hundred miles inland. The weather was charming, 
pirates invisible, and the few war-junks that we had yet seen peace- 
able ; so that, by the time we came to Kwa-chow — a large village 
five hundred miles from the sea — and where we converted the last of 

D 2 



36 



The Log of the Fort una. 



our cargo into cash, all expectation of danger or trouble with the 
natives had quite vanished from our minds. 

By this time a great friendship- — if not, indeed, a warmer feeling 

— had arisen between the fair Se-she, the lowders daughter, and myself 

She was a beautiful young creature, and had barely seen her 

fifteenth summer ; but then, in that warm eastern clime, adolescence 

comes much earlier than in our colder northern 
latitude. Her complexion was very fair for 
a Chinese — some of whom, however, are 
very beautiful — and thus presented all the 
o-reater advantao-e of contrast to her luxu- 
riant raven tresses and deep black eyes, 
which, shaded by a fringe of long drooping 
lashes, were wonderfully eloquent and ex- 
pressive ; now sparkling with passion, now 
meltinof with tenderness, and often orlancinsf 
with a timid fawn-like sensitiveness ; they 
were, moreover, straight, large, and almond-shaped, with scarcely 
a trace of the common Celestial obliqueness ; but then, her mother 
had been a native of Honan, the central province of China, where 
most of the women have eyes exquisite as those of their sisters of 
Spain. This beautiful young girl was of a warm, ardent, and unso- 
phisticated nature ; she was, indeed, the very ideal of an uncontami- 
nated desert flower; the very creature of impulse. In figure she was 
rather above the medium height of her countrywomen, and of a form 
so lithe — of swelling, undulating proportions, so exquisitely graceful — 
that I have never 3^et seen its equal in civilisation. Of course she had 
not the fashionable cramped '' small feet ; " neither, fortunately, knew 
she of corset nor crinoline. There was a depth of feeling, a ray 




An a d venture on the Yang-tse-Kiang. 37 

of warm, romantic, yet undeveloped sentiment in her ever expressive 
glorious black eyes, that at once strongly attracted my sympathies. 

I had been years from England, and had not seen anything 
like such feminine beauty since leaving; no wonder it affected me. 
I cannot help describing her, for she saved my life, poor darling ! but 
lost her own in the generous, gallant, loving act ! 

From the peculiar construction of the Lore ha s cabin, I often 
managed to steal a few moments of Se-she's time, unobserved by her 
father at his station at the helm. 

Our friendship commenced by the meeting of our eyes, and, after 
the first glance, became increased, somehow, by others not so timid, 
and expressing more interest. Then the fair young creature came to 
mend my things, having seen me, one day, botching at some ruins left 
by the destroying Chinese washerwomen, when, in soft and musical 
accents, she offered to relieve me from the task. 

Sometimes I lent her books with illustrations, and, once or 
twice, managed to remain long enough in her company to try and 
explain the meaning of the strange pictures. But, as a rule, I found 
the old clothes serve as an excuse to be near her ; and often would 1 
sit on the deck close by, watching the silky lashes and downcast eyes, 
which ever and anon would be lifted just a little to give me a soft, 
thrilling glance. 

I know not how all this would have ended, for we were fast get- 
ting in love, and by the glitter of the lowders eyes and the frown on 
his brow, whenever he saw me near his daughter, he would evidently 
disapprove of our feelings if he knew them, when we came to Kwa- 
chow, and the catastrophe ensued. 

There being any quantity of game in the neighbourhood — the 
swamps, marshes, creeks, and lagoons inland abounding with wild 



38 The Log of the Fortuna. 



fowl, whilst pheasants, pigeons, rabbits, and musk deer were plentiful 
on the dry land — early one cool and frosty morning I started on a 
shooting excursion, accompanied by Hans and Ramah, Frank and 
the "Angel " remaining on board to take care of the lorcha. 

The early winter air was delightful, and we had a capital day's 
sport — so much so, indeed, that we were obliged to hire a couple of 
natives from a small village to assist the solitary member of our 
Chinese crew whom we had brought to carry the game. 

It was getting dusk when we began to approach Kwa-chow on 
our return, and I know not how to explain the chill presentiment, the 
sudden dread of some impending calamity that came upon me at the 
very instant we turned homewards. Perhaps the electro-biologists 
can elucidate the psychological mystery when they hear how very 
soon and fatally my presentiment of evil became verified. Moreover, 
another strange fact to be remembered is, that some unaccountable 
impulse caused me to look at my watch when first the indefinite dread 
came to my mind. I noticed that the time was exactly six o'clock. 

In the course of an hour or so we came to a little wood outside 
Kwa-chow. 

We had just entered the narrow path between the trees and 
bushes, when a white female form suddenly sprang up from a dark spot 
where it had been lying hidden, and flew towards me. 

I suppose that the strange working of my mind had made me 
somewhat nervous, for I had long since become too hardy to feel any 
agitation at even the most sudden and dangerous surprises, yet, on 
the present occasion, my first feeling was undoubtedly one of alarm. 

However, my fear was quickly allayed, and succeeded by intense 
amazement, for it was Se-she, who rushed into my arms, laid her hand 
on my shoulder, and, sobbing violently the while, poured forth such 







.% 

KW 



V v"' -°i';!^lfe /**««¥?! 



w" H u iUpS 



5^A^2 



An Adventure on the Yang-tse-Kiang. 41 

rapid and broken exclamations in her native tongue that I could not 
understand a word she said. 

It seemed that Ramah (who spoke Chinese perfectly) and the 
sailor comprehended what she said, for the latter interrupted her, 
took hold of one of her arms, and tried to get her away from me ; 
whilst the Indian, giving a loud exclamation of anger and surprise, 
threw down the buck he had been carrying, and looked to his arms. 

I struck the Chinaman's hand from the excited girl, ordered him 
to be quiet, and asked her what had occurred. 

The sailor at once ran off in the direction of the village ; but 
Ramah, bounding over the ground with great leaps like a tiger, was 
after him, and in a couple of moments was back by my side, coolly 
wiping his keen hdwar on a large banana leaf. 

" Good heavens, Ramah ! what have you done ? " I cried : 
" you have killed the man !" 

"Bode ar-char (very good) Sahib," replied he, placidly. "Ramah 
know. Ramah heart inside berry too much sore. De soosti-wallah 
Chi-ne-man on board have been kill Travers Sahib ; have been take 
de lorcha; have " 

" Dowse my toplights ! " roared Hans, interrupting him. " D'ye 
mean do zay, Misder Calashe, as how dere ist a mudiny aboard ?" 

" Saar ! no call me calashe," said Ramah, indignantly. " I no 
b'long Lascar sailor-man. I high caste man ; before sowar in Fane 
Sahib horse !" 

"Silence!" I cried. "No wrangling now. Look to your arms, 
and let us be ready for the worst." 

Then, in the still night air, the voice of my poor Se-she was 
heard, sobbing — 

" Oh, Ha-le ! " (so she pronounced my Christian name), " Oh, 



42 The Log of the Fortuna. 



Ha-le ! Gno-te foo yiu-shar Fa-lank !" (my father has killed 
Frank !) 

In the deep silence that followed this startling announcement I 
could hear the hasty, excited breathing of my two followers ; but as 
for the coolies carrying the game, they had seated themselves on the 
ground near by, and, having produced their pipes, were smoking with 
a stolidity and indifference perfectly diabolical. 

With her arms round my neck the poor girl told me all that had 
happened. How her father, in concert with the petty Mandarin of 
the place and his dozen braves, had led the crew to mutiny, had cut 
down Frank and the " Angel," and had proceeded to ransack my 
cabin, possessing themselves of all the money — about seven thousand 
dollars. Having heard that we were to be killed and put out of the 
way on our return, she had stepped ashore and hidden herself to 
watch for our coming, so as to warn me of the infernal conspiracy 
ag^ainst our lives. 

We were in a terrible fix. Here we were, right in the heart of 
China, our vessel captured, our friend murdered, and his murderers 
waiting to serve us in the same manner ! 

No doubt the money had proved too great a temptation, and, 
for the sake of obtaining it, our loiuder and crew had entered into 
alliance with the Mandarin of the place and his braves. 

We had lost friends under similar circumstances, and knew that 
many an unfortunate white man had been killed by the Chinese for 
the sake of much less money than would be made by our death. 

However, there was not a moment to lose in taking action of 
some sort, for even now a party of the bloodthirsty braves and muti- 
neers might be searching ashore for us ; or, perhaps, they might make 
off with the lorcka, and so at once deprive me of my property and cut 



An Adventure on the Yang-tse-Kiang. 43 

off our only means of escape — for, unless we could somehow recap- 
ture the Queen Mary, our fate was certain, as we would never be able 
to reach Shanghai alive, the whole country intervening being full of 
the ruthless and unscrupulous Imperial soldiery, or, rather, rabble, 
fighting against the Taiping rebels. 

I dismissed the coolies, letting them take the game, and then we 
all walked after them, seeing them a considerable distance on the way 
back to their village. 

Meanwhile, I had come to a determination with my comrades 
as to our course of action. 

Our plan was to strike the river's bank some distance above 
Kwa-chow, find a boat, then drop silently down with the tide to 
reconnoitre, and, if possible, retake the lorcka. This was, in fact, the 
only resource we had. 

Fortunately, we were all well armed, for, however safe I might 
think myself, I knew the Chinese character too well, and had had too 
much experience ever to be off my guard in the way of carrying weapons. 

We each had a revolver in addition to our guns, all of which 
were double-barrels ; and, besides this, Ramah had his keen, razor- 
like hilwar — the sharp native sword he had carried as a sowar in 
Fane's horse, whilst Hans had a formidable "bowie," and I wore in 
my belt a large hunting-knife, fashioned so as to fix on the end of my 
gun like a bayonet. 

When the beautiful Se-she saw us turn off in the direction of the 
river, she suspected our intention was to try and recapture the vessel, 
and she clung to me, crying — 

" Oh, ngo-te ngae ! Puh che ! Puh che ! Ngo-te foo yau shar 
ne !" (Oh, m.y love ! Do not go ! Do not go ! My father will kill 
you ! ) 



44 The Log of the Fortuna, 

I endeavoured to pacify the poor girl, and tried to induce her to 
remain in some of the cottages we were passing every now and then, 
for I dreaded to have her with us during the deadly fight that might, 
and almost surely would, ensue. 

But the devoted darlingf would not hear of leavingf me. She had 
now left her father — her only relative — she said, and henceforth her 
lot was mine ; my people should be her people, my home should be 
her home, and whithersoever I went there would she follow. 

What could I do but yield to so much love and devotion ? 

It was nearly ten o'clock when we came to the river's bank, and 
it was some time before we could find a boat. At length, however, 
we came upon one, and, as luck would have it, found inside the very 
thing we wanted — a good long coil of light grass rope. 

This was even more important than the oars and sail we also 
found. 

Launching the little craft, we all got into her, put out the oars, 
and were once more afloat. 

Then we sat quiet, drifting down with the tide, and in about half 
an hour faintly discerned the lights of Kwa-chow, just twinkling 
through the deep darkness of the night. 

Fortunately for us, neither moon nor star could be seen, and the 
night was intensely dark, the heavens being covered with a dense 
black pall of heavy, lowering clouds. 

Bending on the end of the rope to the boat's little grapnel, we 
tossed it overboard directly the lights became visible, and then slowly 
slacked away, for we knew that we were very near to where we had 
left the lorcha moored alongside the village bund, and expected, every 
yard we drifted now, to see her. 

Perhaps half the line had been paid out, when suddenly, right 



An Adventure on the Yang-tse-Kiang. 45 

astern, not twenty yards distant, and almost overhead, I saw the faint 
glimmer of a light. 

I immediately whispered to my comrades to stop slacking away, 
for I knew that the light must be the Queen Marys masthead lantern, 
hoisted either to show us the way to the trap prepared by the 
treacherous natives, or to guard against collision by showing her 
position to any junk that might be coming down stream. 

The crew had cast off from the bund, and had then anchored 
out in the stream. This was all the better for our scheme. 

Hauling in the rope, we then weighed our grapnel, made a 
drag by using the mast and sail, to which we bent the other end of 
the line, and next tossed it overboard. 

We now pulled out into the stream, leaving the drag to drift 
down between the lorcha and the shore ; then, when we had got out to 
a sufficient distance, we rested on our oars, looked to our arms, and 
also drifted with the current. 

In a few moments the light appeared again, broad off on our 
starboard hand, and, at almost the same instant, we felt the jerk as 
the rope caught across our vessel's cable. Instantly we let go the 
grapnel, and slowly veered away, keeping the bight of the line in our 
hands. By this means we dropped astern of the lorcha, and, by using 
one part or the other of our rope, could either get directly in her 
wake or well off on her port quarter. We now took the former 
position, and found ourselves just within sight of the vessel, which 
we could barely discern as a dim-looking mass, perhaps forty yards 
right ahead of us. 

Carefully loading our guns with a ball and a charge of heavy 
buck-shot in each barrel, we started on our perilous enterprise. 

Slowly and cautiously we now hauled away on that part of the 



46 The Log o'f the Fortuna. 

rope caught across the Queen Marys cable, till at length, without 
being discovered, we were right under her port counter. 

Crouching low in the boat, we waited a moment in the most 
breathless suspense. We could hear the sound of voices, but, where 
we lay, were safely hidden from the view of those on deck. 

Light was streaming from the cabin windows. Slowly raising 
my head upon a level with the nearest stern port, I peered within. 

There they were — the mutineers and their allies — right before 
my eyes, and only a few feet distant ! 

There was my money, piled up on the cabin table, with our false 
lowder and the Mandarin busily engaged counting it out and placing 
it in small divisions, evidently to be shared among the eager crowd 
of crew and braves throno-inof around them. 

I counted the crew. All were there but three or four, and I 
knew how securely one of them had been disposed of. Then I 
numbered the braves. There were eleven of them present, leaving 
but one to be on deck with the sailors, probably keeping watch for 
our return. 

Now or never was our chance to try and retake the lorcha, whilst 
nearly all her captors were busy gloating over the plunder down below. 

A terrible idea struck me, as I surveyed the position. I felt a 
fierce exultation at thinking how nicely we could trap and destroy 
nearly the whole of our enemies at one. blow ! 

In cautious whispers I unfolded the plan to my companions. 
They approved it, and at once we proceeded to put it into execution. 

" Here," whispered Hans, "here ist a rope dat ist hanging ovei 
der stern." 

Placing the blade of my knife between my teeth, and loosening 
the revolver in my belt, I grasped the rope, and, despite the attempt 



An a dventure on the Yang-tse-Kianc. 47 

made to prevent me by poor Se-she, who was trembling convulsively 
with suppressed fear and anguish, slowly hoisted myself up hand over 
hand. 

I rested for a moment or two, twisting my feet round the rope, 
when my head was just below the vessel's taffrail ; but then, hearing 
nothing, gently raised myself a few inches and gazed on board. 

So far as I could see in the dark — and, depend upon it, my sight 
was strained to the utmost — there was not a soul on the quarter-deck. 
In all probability, those on guard were waiting for us near the 
gangway, amidships. I felt pretty well satisfied that, as it was too 
dark for me to see any one, it was equally impossible for any one to 
see me. Slowly and stealthily I crawled upon the taffrail, then sank 
below it to the deck, where I paused again, with a feeling, too, of 
mingled wrath and grim merriment at the manner in which I was 
compelled to board my own vessel. After listening intently for a few 
minutes, I was able to distinguish the muttering of voices somewhere 
amidships on deck, as well as the sound of those beneath me in the 
cabin. 

Creeping up to a locker on the quarter-deck, I took out a couple 
of the terrible missiles kept there, and also brought out the iron bar 
and padlock of the cabin hatchway. 

At this instant the sound of footsteps coming aft alarmed me. 
I laid down at full length by the side of the locker and the skylight, 
drawing my revolver, cocking it, and taking a firm grip of my long- 
hunting-knife. 

Providentially, the man came up on the other side of the deck, 
and so the shelter I had taken advantage of effectually concealed me. 
He went down the companion-hatch into the cabin. 

Now was my time ! Crawling to the hatchway, I softly drew 



48 The Log of the Fortuna. 



the slide over it, placed the bar on, and locked it with the padlock, 
putting the key into my pocket. In another instant I had slid down 
to my anxious and expectant companions, taking care to carry the 
terrible stink-pots (^) with me. 

Ramah displayed a truly Indian stoicism, and spoke not a 
word ; but Hans, in spite of his phlegmatic disposition, could not 
help eagerly asking — 

" Veil, mein vriend, how hast doo made out ?" 

" All right, old boy ! all right ! " I replied, in a whisper. ** Get 
your flint and steel ; light the joss-stick here on top of these stink- 
pots. We'll give the wretches a salute through the stern ports that 
will astonish them!" 

" Der tyvel !" cried Dutchy, " dat ist goot ! dat ist goot !" 

Then he struck a light, ignited the joss-stick, and I replaced the 
now burning material on the hollow tops of the missiles, so as to be 
ready to throw them — the slightest fall being sufficient to break 
them — when the fire would come into contact with the contents, 
the whole machine being within a thin bag. 

We waited breathlessly a moment, dreading lest the slight noise 
made by the flint and steel might have betrayed us ; but not a sound, 
save the gentle lap lap of the waves against the vessel's sides, with 
now and then an indistinct murmur from within, could be heard. 

We hauled up close to the stern ports, then fixed the boat with 
a hitch of the rope round the foremost thwart. Snatching up our 
guns, and taking a steady aim through two of the open ports, we all 
three fired at the same instant. 

(^) This terrible missile is made of thin clay, filled with a highly combustible compound, 
which emits the most horrible burning material and suffocating fumes. It is used as a hand- 
grenade, and is peculiar to Chinese warfare. 



An a dventure on the Yang-tse-Kiang. 49 

Both the lowder and the Mandarin fell to our first shots — we had 
made sure of them ; and we poured in the contents of our second 
barrels before the astonished crowd of Chinamen could tell whence 
the sudden death was coming amongst them. But when we hurled 
the fearful hand-grenades upon them they rushed towards the ports 
with a loud yell, firing off their guns and pistols as they came. 

I felt a sharp burning sensation as a bullet whizzed past, abrad- 
ing the skin of my neck, and heard a slight exclamation of pain from 
one of my companions ; but the next moment, hauling on the grapnel 
rope, we were out of the line of fire, and away on the lorchas 
quarter. 

" Haul away, boys ! Haul away on the drag rope now, and 
let us get alongside," I cried to my comrades, in an intense under- 
tone. 

We tore through the water, were alongside in an instant, and, 
after making fast to the vessel's main-chains, and leaving Se-she 
seated in the stern-sheets of the boat, we sprang on board, knife 
and pistol in hand. 

Rushing aft, we found five or six natives tearing at the cabin 
iiatchway, and striving to liberate their stifling friends below, whose 
shrieks were horrible. 

Too late they heard our rush, and turned to meet us ; but the 
sharp and rapid detonations of our revolvers rang echoing through 
the still night air, and three of their number fell prone and helpless 
to the deck. Three others, however, sprang upon us ; and the next 
moment I found myself closely engaged with a huge native, who, by 
his dress, I knew to be the remaining brave. 

I had fired full at my assailant's breast as he ran towards me, 
and knew, by the yell he gave, that the shot must have taken effect ; 

E 



50 The Log of the Fortuna. 



but It could not have inflicted any serious injury, as he still rushed 
on, grappled with me, and cried to his companions — 

''Tah! tah! Shar Yang-quitzo ! " (Fight! fight! Kill the 
foreign devils !) 

The force with which the fellow sprang upon me threw me 
down. I lost my knife in the fall, but retained the revolver, and 
dragged my antagonist with me. Over and over we rolled upon the 
deck, but neither could use the weapon with which he was armed, 
for his right hand had a firm grip of my left wrist, whilst my other 
hand was equally employed upon his left, in which he carried a 
formidable dagger. I soon found that, in spite of his wound, from 
which the warm blood came trickling over me, my strength was no 
match for him. Suddenly dropping his weapon, he shook off the 
grasp of my right hand, then fastened his fingers upon my throat 
with a grip of iron, from which I found it impossible to release 
myself He was strangling me fast ! Never shall I forget the 
terrible agony I endured ! Not a breath could I draw ; my chest 
seemed bursting for want of air ; my head was even worse, sur- 
charged with blood, racked with pain, and ringing with horrible 
noises ; my eyes felt starting from their sockets. I became in- 
sensible. 

When consciousness returned, my first sensation was of great 
pain in the throat ; then, by the flickering light of a Chinese lantern, 
I saw Ramah, Hans, and the blood-stained visage of the " Angel " 
bending over me. I felt a weight upon my breast, put my hand 
there, and felt the long silky tresses of Se-she. Then the motion of 
the vessel told me that she was under weigh, and, glancing aloft, 
I saw that the sails were set. Just then my foolish old " boy " 
went down on his knees by my side, blubbering aloud, and crying — 



An a d venture on the Yang-tse-Kiang. 51 

" Oh, Massa Ha-le ! ml too mutchee glad you no die. Mi have 
too mutchee fear you no savey what ting lowder, Mandalene, makee 
do; you come board he makee kille you. Oh, mi just now numbah 
one too mutchee glad !" 
\ You see, the Chinese are not all bad, 

) The "Angel " is alive, I began to reflect ; perhaps my old chum 
Frank is safe also. With great difficulty I managed to utter his 
name. My friends gave a mournful shake of the head, and Hans 
muttered, " Dead ! dead ! " at the same time pointing to something by 
my side, and saying, " Thank God, capt'n, you are alive ! Der tyvel 
put I dort dat you vas die !" 

Raising myself a little, I gazed where he pointed. There lay 
poor Frank : hacked and quiet ; gashed with many a gory wound ; 
dead and cold. 

I was not yet fully sensible, and turned, in a dreamy, stupefied 
sort of way, to scan the face of her whose head was pillowed in my 
arms. There was a faint, long-drawn, lingering sigh ; the soft lips 
were raised to mine. I just heard the scarcely-breathed words, " Oh, 
ngo-te ngae" (Oh, my love !) ; then the fair young head fell heavily 
on my breast. 

The terrible truth now dawned upon me. Se-she had been 
wounded in the boat ; it was her cry I had heard, but had not noticed 
in my excitement, and now she had given up her last breath resting 
in my arms ! 

I sat up, clasping the inanimate form, and gazed mournfully, 
helplessly at my friends. I saw in the dim light that even the eyes 
of the stoical Ramah were wet with tears. 

Alas ! It was indeed too true; the devoted girl lay a lifeless corpst 
within my arms. She had saved our lives by sacrificing everything 

E 2 



52 The Log of the Fortuna. 



to her love, and coming ashore to warn me, but had perished herself 
by that cruel shot from the cabin windows — as I found by the red 
round hole where it had pierced her tender bosom through and through. 

Never before did I dream how great an impression the fair 
young thing had made upon my heart ; and now, alas ! I had lost her. 

What needs it to tell of my bitter grief, my unavailing regret ? 
I have told how she died ; a whole language cannot make a more 
mournful tale of love, sorrow, and devotion. And I had lost my 
strange, wild love for ever ! 

When once more I stood upon the deck of my vessel my 
surviving friends told me how that the murderers had all been stifled 
by the fumes of the terrible stink-pots, save those, indeed, who had 
sprung overboard from the stern ports in time to escape the frightful 
death of their friends who perished by burning and suffocation. 
Some seven or eight of the crew had clambered on board from the 
water ; but all the mutiny had been taken out of them, and they 
assisted in getting the lorcha under-weigh, for it was advisable to get 
clear of Kwa-chow as soon as possible. When they went to get 
the unfortunate Se-she out of the boat they found her helpless, fainting, 
and smothered with blood from the deadly wound in her bosom. 
They carefully carried her on deck, placing her by my side, for 
they thought that I, too, was mortally wounded, seeing that I was 
insensible, and also covered with gore, which, however, had flowed 
from the brave who had attacked me, and whom they had disposed 
of after having rid themselves of their own assailants. The " Angel " 
had suddenly made his appearance when they were masters of the 
deck ; he had been wounded during the mutiny of the crew, and he 
led them to the hold, where, stretched out on the ballast, they found 
the body of my hapless partner. 



An a d venture on the Y ang-tse-Kiang. 55 

Poor Frank ! His death was terribly avenged. Never shall I 
forget the horrible sight that met our gaze when we opened the 
hatch and proceeded to clear the cabin ! Four or five had been killed 
by our hre ; the rest of the miserable wretches had been burnt^ 
suffocated, scorched to death. 

The " Angel " declared that the mutiny took place exactly at 
six d clock. 

Dropping down the river as far as the Pawn-pien-shan reach, on 
our way back to Shanghai, we bore the bodies of my unfortunate 
friend, and the lovely but ill-fated Se-she to the foot of the great Split- 
Hill on the northern shore, where the land was clothed with primeval 
forest ; and there, beneath the shade of the drooping cypress boughs, 
ever waving, mournful, and solemn above their lonely resting-place — 
at the foot of the ancient, time-worn, monumental sculpture of the 
grey Yang-shan pagoda — we laid them side by side; the tawny 
maiden of the East and the pale-faced stranger from afar. 



THE LOG. 

Jariuary Zth. 

Seven bells, half-past eleven p.m. — Esmond had just finished his 
tale, and we were all pretty silent for some few moments. No doubt 
each thought of poor Se-she, and wondered whether a similar violent 
death would terminate his own career in that distant land, so fatal to 
Europeans, with its pirates, its robbers, and its general lawlessness. 

Midnight. — The " Angel " (Esmond's steward) appeared to lay 
the supper, and we all seemed to feel an interest in him, such as we 
had not known before, as we gazed at the large disfiguring scars upon 
his face and arms. 

A glance of intelligence passed between the " Angel " and his 
master at the memories revived ; then we went to work at our 
supper. 

JmiMary ()th. 

During all the small hours of this morning, till aroused by the 
smooth accents and gliding step of that sleek, grave-faced Assam, 
bringing me the usual cup of steaming hot coffee and plate of 
buttered toast, I dream of nothing but the bleeding form of poor 
Se-she, lying still and cold beneath the shade of the mournful 
waving cypress boughs, and gleaming white monumental sculpture 
of the tall Yang-shan pagoda. 



The Log. 



57 




CHA-PU BAY. 



As a ship's harbour log is seldom very interesting — much less 
when kept upon a mud-bank — we will, in future, omit the ordinary 
details of the day, and deal only with matters more immediately 
concerning ourselves, our amusements, and the tales of the respective 
evenings. 

Nothing noteworthy transpired during this day. The schooner 
remained comfortably embedded in the mud, and we all paid a visit 
to the neighbouring shore, rambling along the wild, romantic, and 
picturesque coast-line into which it was broken, whilst I made the 
accompanying sketch of a spot that I particularly admired, called 
Cha-pu Bay by the natives. 



58 The Log of the Fortuna. 

As eight bells strike we again assemble round the cheering 
stove, that night, ready for our friend the merchant's yarn. 

Whilst the rest of us were mixing our grog, lighting our weeds, 
and making ourselves generally comfortable, Mr. Lawrence took the 
chair, and said — • 

" Well, gentlemen, there is but one story of which I can think, 
and of this I am myself the hero, so that I shall follow the example 
of our worthy friend and host, by telling a tale in which the teller is 
himself personally interested." 

" Hear, hear! " roared Jack Backstay, in a voice that seemed to 
shake the stanch Fortuna s very timbers. 

We were all pleased with the story-teller's statement, and 
anxious for him to begin, as we had been fearing that our tales would 
have too strong a flavour of salt water and the tar-bucket. 

" Gentlemen," continued Mr. Lawrence, " you have all met my 
wife ; I believe one or two of you have heard that our first meeting 
was strange and romantic. It was, indeed, very much so ! It is this 
that I shall now have the pleasure of narrating to you." 

Settling himself comfortably in the easiest easy-chair, and 
lighting a huge " hubble-bubble," at which he vigorously puffed away 
at every pause, our friend began his tale. 



€i)t MtrdjmV^ ©arm 
LE PONT NEUF. 

A TALE OF PARIS. 

Dismal and dreary appeared the long streets of the French metropolis. 
The cold wind came sweeping wildly along the deserted thorough- 
fares, seeming to howl with delight at its undisputed supremacy. 
The rain and sleet beat heavily in torrents against the closed 
windows ; making the people within gaze complacently on their own 
shadows as they were brought into fantastic life at the will of the 
glowing embers, each flash of which created strange gigantic bodies 
and huge contorted members. So very empty were the endless 
streets, that the lamps seemed lighting a lost city — an interminable 
desert of brickwork, forsaken by all things that had the breath of life. 
Had it not been that something of modern existence could now and 
then be seen, the solitude would have been oppressive ; fortunately, 
at rare intervals, some solitary gendarme would come into view, 
though, whenever the muffled -up figure of cocked hat, cape, and 
boots, came into sight, it evinced a very decided preference for large 
porticoes or deep doorways, and soon became invisible again beneath 
the friendly shelter of some dark archway. Passengers were rare, 
and though the hour was comparatively early, the streets of the gay 
city were almost deserted ; but then it was a wretched night, and none 
but the belated traveller, or those whose avocations kept them out 
late, were likely to be away from home. 

As I strode along homeward, puffing fiercely at my cigar, I 



6o The Log of the Fortuna. 

began to regret that I had not accepted my friend Victor D'Orsay's 
invitation to pass the night at his comfortable chambers ; however, in 
the sequel I found reason to rejoice at my determination. 

Having once lived long in Paris, I had many friends there, but 
on this occasion was only making a short stay en passant, on my 
return to England from the East Indies. 

Well, I felt savage and miserable, trudging along those muddy 
streets of the oldest part of the Faubourg St. Germain ; but I met 
with an adventure that night — an adventure which not only made me 
acquainted with an atrocious system of crime, but had the result of 
making me happy for life. I succeeded in baulking a couple of 
murderers, savino- the life of their intended victim, brinoring- the 
criminals to justice, and obtaining a dear little wife for myself. 
Rather a good night's work, I flatter myself Thank heaven I did 
not accept Victor's urgent solicitation! 

I had to cross the Seine, in order to reach my hotel near the 
Tuileries, and I made for the nearest bridge — Le Pont Neuf. 

Upon entering a dark street that led to the bank of the river, 
I came in sio"ht of a female form hastenino^ forward in the same 
direction. Dark as it was, we were yet near enough for me to see 
that the stranger was well dressed ; young I felt assured she must 
be, by her gracefulness of form and lightness of step. 

My interest was at once awakened. Who could she be, out on 
this tempestuous night ? Bound, too, for that evilly-reputed Pont 
Neuf! 

This ill-omened structure, I at once reflected, was — taking a meta- 
physical view of it — the counterpart of our Waterloo Bridge. Both 
are affected by suicides. Who ever heard of any one taking their last 
dive from Blackfriars, or any other than the favoured bridge ? Who 



Le Pont Neuf. 6i 



ever knew of the Parisian plunging from anywhere but Le Pont 
Neuf ? It is a strange — a ghastly fact ; but no less indisputable than 
inexplicable. Why go they there, these miserables ? Why always 
to the same spot, when anywhere would equally well serve their 
wretched purpose ? We are the slaves of fashion ; perhaps that 
explains it. Our belles make small waists and wear chignons, 
because they are fashionable ; the Chinese women cripple their feet 
because others do so ; those who are tired of life in London and 
Paris, and choose ending it by water, rush to the one or the other of 
the aforesaid bridges, because they know that many have gone there 
before them, and because, when thinking for the fatal place, Le Pont 
Neuf or Waterloo Bridge most likely makes the first impression on 
their distempered brain. 

Such fancies as these affected me, and I walked faster, so as to 
overtake the strangle female before she should reach the bridgfe. I 
came up with her just as we both passed on to it. One glance was 
sufficient. She was no suicide. The gaslight was strong enough 
just there to show me that her eyes were clear and calm ; no suicidal 
mania shone in their full bright depths ; but a very angry flash came 
into them at my earnest gaze, and a thick veil was quickly lowered 
before a sweet little face that I at once perceived was extremely 
beautiful. I had just time to notice the small regular features, the 
profusion of rich chestnut tresses, and the glittering large eyes, when 
they were effectually hidden from me. This mysterious girl, who 
came wandering to that fatal bridge so late at night — alone, too, in 
the dark and storm — was well, though plainly dressed, and her slender 
figure, barely of the medium height, I could yet see, in spite of the 
mufHing cloak, was strikingly graceful, and of a charmingly developed 
contour. 



62 The Log of the Fortuna. 



I could not resist the temptation. In my best French — and 
that must, I fear, have sounded rather barbarous to ears Parisian 
— I poHtely asked permission to escort her over the bridge. 

" Non, merci, Monsieur," was the only reply vouchsafed. 

The fair stranger's manner was so full of natural dignity and 
maidenly reserve, that I could not do more than raise my hat and 
walk on. It was obviously quite impossible to repeat my request, 
and I went my way wondering. 

Upon passing the statue in the centre of the bridge I looked 
back and saw her following, perhaps thirty yards behind, for I could 
only just discern her through the storm and darkness. 

I had gone but little further, when I was suddenly startled by a 
wild cry for help. 

I knew it to be her voice ; besides, that fearful scream came 
from the very spot which she could just have reached. 

I rushed back, a loud splash in the water making me fear the 
worst. 

At the same moment two men ran swiftly past me. They came 
from the direction whence the shriek had come ; and, as they were 
separating, I plainly heard one say to the other — 

" A minuit — par le Maison Rouge ! " 

What meant this strange expression ? " At midnight — by the 
Red House!" 

I had not time to consider it then, neither to pursue the fugitives, 
for the young girl had disappeared from the bridge. However, just 
as the two men were passing me, I picked up a good-sized stone, and 
as they would not obey my summons to halt, hurled it with all my 
force at the tallest. At this instant he glanced over his shoulder, and 
I knew that the missile must have taken effect on the side of his face, 



Le Pont Neuf. 63 



for he threw up his hands to it, and staggered almost to falling. This 
little episode, together with the exclamation already noticed, did good 
service by-and-by. All this happened within a minute from the 
outcry, and, as I reached the centre of the bridge, and gazed earnestly 
upon the murky river, running sluggishly below, I suddenly perceived 
a faint white rippling, from whence came another cry — half smothered 
this time — for help. 

Thank heaven ! I was an expert swimmer, and the bridge was 
not more than fifteen or twenty feet above the water. Throwing off 
my upper garments, and kicking off my boots, I sprang forward with 
all my strength, taking a dive that brought me up just where I 
desired — right in the centre of the circling white ripples. In a 
moment I felt the drowning grasp upon me. The darkness over 
that inky river was so great that I could not see who held me, but 
I felt the face, touched the luxuriant hair now tangled in the water, 
and knew that it was the young girl I had before addressed. 

I tried to free myself, to hold her so that I could swim. To 
my horror, however, she clung to me so tightly, and with such rigid- 
ness, that I could not even manage to keep afloat. 

Down we went ! Down, down, deeper yet, till I felt the slimy 
black ooze at the bottom of the river. 

The sinking did not trouble me, for I could have held my breath 
much longer ; but I shuddered at the thought that we might perhaps 
stick fast in that horrid mud and slime, there to mingle with the 
loathsome objects held already, and keep company with other dead, 
drowned things. 

Soft, pulpy substances were swept against us ; long dank leaves 
of sedgy plants kept clutching and twining around us, ready — too 
ready — to welcome us down to their dark and watery abode. We 



64 The Log of the Fort una. 

were swept against one of these unseen clusters of aquatic vegetation, 
which threw such strong and wiry tendrils about us as made me 
fear that it would hold us for ever. With a great effort I broke away, 
and we then rose slowly up to the surface. 

A moment to breathe ! to see the lowering black clouds hanging 
as a funeral pall above us, whilst the rain, like pitying tear-drops, 
came heavily down from its dense, watery fountains, and fell plashing 
around us with a melancholy sound ; to see the sombre opaqueness 
of the frowning heavens, joining the still blacker line of the distant 
city, so oblivious of our danger, so heedless of our dying struggles, 
as we swept helpless along that dark and dismal river ! A moment to 
see all this ; to appreciate the utter hopelessness of our situation ; to 
feel the bitter disappointment of failing to attract the attention of 
those who could save us on board yonder bark, looming vast, strange, 
and ghost-like through the murky air, and past which we quickly 
glide ; then down again to the inky water's eager embrace. 

We were under water so long this time that it nearly exhausted 
me. 

I began to get delirious, and fancy, though my eyes were closed, 
that I could see all that river's horrible tenancy about us : the 
glistening white bones of those who had perished long ago as we 
were doing — the loathsome, creeping, crawling things that live in 
foul waters and feed upon the dead — the frightful bloated bodies of 
the lately drowned — all hideous things seemed eagerly thronging 
around us In a ghastly sort of merriment. Added to these pleasant 
fancies was the agonising sensation of suffocation. 

Once more, thank God ! we rose to the surface ; rose, too, just 
as I could feel those slender yet firm limbs relaxing and untwining 
from about me. 



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liliillliffil;^ll;ll:lillllJli;.kia!;i,a,.l:l,:J!lilL;!.„^l]li:ll:,i 




Le Pont Neuf. 67 



Getting my right arm free, I felt at ease in the water; and 
then, after resting awhile, proceeded to turn my insensible burden, 
after which I pulled her close to me, placed both her hands under 
my chin, and clasped them there. She was now face up and out of the 
water, and with her back to mine, in the easiest possible position. 
If it had not been for the former struggling and exhaustion con- 
sequent upon twice sinking with her, I could have carried her like 
this for miles, for I was at home in the water. As it was, I knew 
that my strength would not last much longer, and so endeavoured 
to reserve it by merely drifting with the current, instead of exhaust- 
ing myself by striking out for the distant bank. Moreover, I had 
heard that the tide set direct from the Pont Neuf to a part of the 
shore some two or three miles distant, where the river took a sharp 
bend to the eastward. I had also heard that to this spot usually 
floated the poor remains of those who had madly quitted the cares 
and sorrows of life by taking the fatal plunge into the cool, 
obliterating waters ; so I made myself easy, and went the same way. 
But I doubt whether any who had gone before ever afterwards 
described the journey. 

Time flew by, and we drifted on, but were so little nearer to 
the shore that I half beran to fear we mio-ht never agfain reach it 
alive. 

I was getting very tired and very cold. 

My thoughts took a gloomy turn, and, in fancy, I saw us lying 
side by side upon some quiet strand, appealing so mutely, so pitifully, 
to those who came down wonderingly to view us, for some few feet 
of their land whereon to rest our finished frames and hide them from 
the world. 

But then, suppose we did not touch the shore! . 

F 2 



68 The Log of the Fortuna. 



Suppose we were drifted out into the wide, wide sea ! 

I thought of the monsters of the deep, and shuddered even more 
than I shivered with the cold. I thought of Victor Hugo and his 
devil-fish; thought, too, that as we were drifting out towards the 
French coast we might fall into the clutches of the very one that 
he had seen — if he did see one. I trusted, however, that his strange 
monster was imaginary ; but I remembered ugly stories tending to 
confirm the truth of the existence of such, though what all this 
mattered when we should be dead I could not at the time perceive. 
Yet I could not leave the subject ; it seemed to possess a strange 
fascination, and, after all, we were not so far from putting these dismal 
conjectures to the test. If we escaped the monstrous sea-things, it 
would only be to float unburied on the deep, to startle, mayhap, in 
the grey of coming night, the mariner of some passing ship, who, 
from high mast-head, would turn sick and fearful at the sight of the 
two upturned white faces gleaming fitfully in the uncertain light, and 
who would wonder, with a shudder, whether his body, too, might 
not some day beat unburied over the remorseless seas, and then 
perhaps, would form a prayer for his rest — his long last rest — in 
some quiet green churchyard of the inland home that had almost 
been forgotten. Then I began to think of that fierce and swiftly- 
gliding monster ; that unquiet demon of the deep — the ravenous 
shark! But even as my wandering fancy took this turn, some hard 
substance struck against me, and, I fear, a loud cry escaped me as I 
thought that the terrible jaws of six- rowed jagged teeth were closing 
upon us. 

How great, however, was my delight ! How great the revulsion 
of feeling ! 

It was land — or, rather, mud — at l^st ! 



Le Pont Neuf. 69 



Whilst dreaming as described, I had failed to notice that we 
were being drifted to the bank. Splashing and falling through 
shallow water, slime, and sedge, I fell with my burden upon dry- 
land. How fervently I thanked the good God for guiding us to 
this spot ! For, had the bank been steep, I should never, in my 
exhausted and encumbered state, have been able to get ashore. 
Upon recovering my strength a little, I unloosed the handkerchief 
with which I had bound the fair stranger's hands around my neck ; 
then tenderly placed her in the most comfortable position, and strove 
to reanimate her ; but without success, for she remained unconscious* 
in spite of my efforts. Then I started up in quest of assistance. 

What was my astonishment — I might almost say horror — to find 
that the nearest house, only some fifty yards from the river's bank, 
was of a deep red colour ! It at once struck me as being the Maison 
Rouee of the assassins. Dark stories I had heard of doinors on 
the river Seine, now recurred to my mind ; but I was quickly recalled 
to the necessity of prompt action, by hearing the church bells strike 
half-past eleven, and remembering that the tall man had appointed 
midnight as the time for what I now imagined meant their meeting 
on this very spot. Running back to where I had left my insensible 
charge, I lifted her in my arms and carried her to the door of the first 
house beyond the red one. Everybody had gone to bed, and it was 
some moments ere any reply was obtained in answer to my loud and 
repeated knocking. At length, however, a huge, white-cotton-night- 
capped head was thrust out of an upper window, and the owner 
;hereof angrily cried — 

" Que du diable me voulez vous ?" 

In as few words as possible I told him my adventure, and 
begged that he would at once come down and take charge of the 



70 The Log of the Fortuna. 

poor girl, who, I feared, was dying, whilst I ran for a doctor. 
Fortunately, we had fallen in with a good Samaritan. 

" Jour de ma vie!" I heard him exclaim, as he left the window, 
and proceeded to shout in so vigorous a manner that the whole 
household was soon aroused and thronorino- round us. 

Leaving my charge in the hands of the worthy citizen and his 
dame, I flew to the corner of the street, where a doctor resided, 
whom I brought back with me. I rejoiced, however, to find that 
his attentions were almost needless, the warmth and stimulants that 
the good people were applying having already restored the beautiful 
girl to consciousness. The moment I entered the room she saw me, 
and, starting half up from the bed, her low exclamations of gratitude, 
the faintly-struggling blush upon her pale cheeks, and the eloquent 
glances of her large and deep-blue eyes were not without effect, wet, 
faint, and uncomfortable as I was. 

By this time — especially as the storm had passed over and the 
night turned fine— some gendarmes became visible. It was the 
revolutionary period, and these guardians of the public peace were 
armed to the teeth, with musket, bayonet, sword, and pistol. To 
make up for lost time, they were amusing themselves by shouting the 
time of night with perfectly frantic vehemence, accompanied with 
the pleasing information (to all who might hear it) that the weather 
had turned fine. Speaking to a couple, and telling them my suspi- 
cions, they readily accompanied me to the river's bank, where we lay 
in wait, close to the Maison Rouge, for those I expected. 

I was clad in a dry rig-out of the hospitable citizen's clothes, 
■which I had put on anyhow in my hurry — the appointed hour having 
almost arrived — and I had just gathered tight under my belt the last 
of the superabundant folds, when we heard the echoing sound of the 




THE GENDARMES. 



Le Pont Neuf. 73 



midnight chimes come booming sonorously from the great bell in the 
lofty tower of Notre Dame. 

We were just in the outskirt of the Faubourg St. Germain, and 
the striking of the myriad church clocks — from the deep, full, and 
richly-toned bell of the cathedral, through every variety of musical 
metallic clang, to the insignificant tinkle in the smallest chapel belfry — 
came rolling through the still night air with exceeding pleasant and 
impressive effect. 

The Maison Rouge, under the walls of which we were hiding, 
stood some little distance from the end of the last street, and nearer 
to the water. 

The booming reverberation, after being taken up from point to 
point, and repeated from church to church, was just dying away in the 
distance, when the noise of approaching footsteps placed us on the alert. 

Though the night was now fine, it was yet very dark, and I 
could not at first recognise the approaching figures. But when they 
passed within a few yards of the shaded corner where we were 
hidden I knew them instantly : my suspicions had proved correct ; 
they were the two men of the Pont Neuf! I whispered so to my 
companions ; whereat one of them — a corporal, upon whom, in con- 
sideration of his official rank, the command of the detachment had 
devolved — lugged forth a note-book, and made some entries in the 
dark, chuckling to himself, and several times repeating, " Aha ! 
Messieurs les Assassins. Cest bon ! c'est bon ! " — after havingf 
solemnly asked me whether I was positive as to their identity, and 
then told his comrade to attest my evidence. No doubt the corporal 
was looking forward to distinguish himself in a cattse cSlebre. 

Whispering to us that we must play the mouchard for a few 
moments, our commander led us stealthily after the two murderous 



74 The Log of the Fortuna. 

wretches. They had just stepped over the river's bank, and got 
down on the narrow muddy beach, so we crawled close up to the 
edge, and then laid down to listen. 

We had not long- to wait. 

With brutal oaths, the ruffians were wondering how it was that 
the body had not yet drifted to the spot ; we heard enough, moreover 
to connect them with many another case — cases of successful murder. 
After peering over the dark surface of the river a little longer, and 
muttering many a horrid curse at the delay, they sat down to wait, 
and lighted their pipes, within a couple of yards of where we lay. 

The moment for action had now arrived. The wretches were 
sitting with their backs turned our way. Silently raising ourselves 
erect, we sprang upon them. They were secured in a moment. 

We had nothing like one of your London street-fights with the 
police, where any ruffian can resist being arrested, and the policeman 
can only meet him upon almost equal terms in a pugilistic encounter. 
Nothing of the sort here. In Paris the gendarmes have very little 
difficulty about securing a prisoner ; they are all armed, and the 
delinquent is well aware that he must submit, or, perhaps, be killed. 

Both my companions had drawn their swords, flourishing them 
with one hand, whilst each held one of our prisoners with the 
other. The murderers were so surprised by our sudden attack, and, 
probably, so awed by the flash of the steel, that they made not the 
slightest attempt at resistance. They did not even rise to their feet 
till the corporal ordered them to get up, so as to enable us to secure 
them with the handcuffs he had oriven me to hold. 

Previous to taking them before the Commissaire of Police, we 
led our prisoners into the presence of their intended victim, who 
unhesitatingly identified them as the men who had thrown her over 



Le Pont Neuf. 75 



the bridge ; and she further deposed that they had rushed upon her 
from behind the equestrian statue on its centre, where they had been 
lying in concealment. 

The ruffians began to appear ill at ease. Evidence was accumu- 
lating against them pretty fast. 

The only thing that seemed difficult to ascertain was the motive 
for their crime — the lady declaring that they were perfect strangers 
to her. However, I had already formed my own opinion of the 
matter, and the theory proved quite correct. 

Before leaving the room, I noticed, among other articles spread 
out to dry, the cards that had been taken from the pocket of her I 
had so fortunately saved. Slyly stealing one of these, directly I got 
outside the door I hastily perused it by the Hght of the lamp on the 
staircase — 



Mdlle. Adele de Biron, 

Professeur de Musique et de Chant. 



So ran the card. And thus was accounted for the lateness of the 
hour at which its fair owner was abroad. No doubt, poor girl ! she 
had many a long tramp in the wet and dark, without much of profit 
or pleasure, for the governess is almost worse paid in Paris than in 
London, and some of the pupils are quite as thick-headed. 

When we reached his abode, and managed to rouse him out, the 
Commissaire at once committed our prisoners to the Prefecture, upon 
the strength of our depositions ; though, I am half inclined to fancy^ 
it would have taken even considerably less evidence to produce the 
same result : for he seemed mightily wroth at being disturbed, and 
appeared perfectly ready to visit upon any unfortunate victim the full 
weight of his virtuous indignation. 



76 The Log of the Fortuna. 



Of course, the moment that the prisoners were safely lodged I 
went back to where I had left the beautiful Ad^le. Findine her 
sufficiently recovered, as well as terribly anxious to proceed home, I 
had the pleasure of taking her there in a fiacre. After what had 
passed, it may easily be imagined that we became great friends 
before reaching her abode. I found that she lived alone with her 
widowed mother, whom she supported by teaching music and singing. 
Mentally, I at once declared that the rising generation of Paris 
should soon be obliored to oret some one else to teach them accom- 
plishments. 

The poor mother was sitting up for her daughter in extreme 
anxiety and alarm — for it was now past two o'clock in the morning. 
Never shall I forget the terror she exhibited on hearing of her child's 
peril, and her intense gratitude when told of how I chanced to be of 
service. 

Well, the beautiful Adele never again walked home alone and 
unprotected so late at night, after giving a long and tedious hour's 
instruction to some wretched enfant for two or \}i\x^^ francs. 

I became a constant visitor at that quiet little home. Often, as 
we paused together on the Pont Neuf, and, hand in hand, from the 
very spot whence we had taken our giddy flight that night, gazed 
down upon the dark waters, flowing on as placidly as ever, we inter- 
changed the words of love and hope. By the time that the trial came 
on I occupied the proud position of the lovely Adele's accepted suitor. 
It is sometimes a good thing to be a first-rate swimmer. 

Many had missed some unfortunate relative whom the ruthless 
waters of the Seine had discovered, and the unhappy friends of some 
so found had solemnly declared their conviction that murder, not 
suicide, had been perpetrated ; the strangest thing being that no 



Le Pont Neuf. 



11 




motive for assassination could be anywhere assigned, neither any one 
discovered upon whom suspicion could alight. Dark rumours, in 
consequence, had gradually arisen. Thus it came to pass that the 



78 The Log of the Fortuna. 

Palais de Justice was thronged in every part on the morning fixed for 
the trial of Adele's assailants. 

The two prisoners were arraigned; and villanous-looking 
scoundrels they were in the clear light of the day. The tallest, a 
huge, brawny ruffian, with cunning, cruel little black eyes, and a short 
stubbly beard spreading unshaved all over his bloated face ; the other, 
a short, thick-set idiot, evidently the tool and slave of the former ; his 
gaunt, expressionless countenance showing nothing more distinctive 
^ ^ than a huge mouth, great, beardless, 

heavy jaws, and a pair of large, 
light - coloured, vacant eyes, that 
contained no trace of other intelli- 
gence than, perhaps, a lurking indi- 
cation of dull, apathetic ferocity. 
The most breathless interest 
THE ASSASSINS. prevallcd throughout the court \ 

and at every pause in the proceed- 
ings, the fall of the proverbial pin might easily have been heard. 

The evidence was terribly conclusive, and, as fact after fact 
accumulated against them, the air of bravado assumed by the biggest 
ruffian gradually subsided into very visible symptoms of fear and 
uneasiness. 

I proved having seen them running from the spot where Adele 
was thrown over the bridge, and at the very moment I heard her fall 
into the water. Then mentioned that I had thrown a stone at the 
tallest, striking him on the left side of the face — the scar was there, 
on his left cheek, and hardly yet quite healed. Next I swore to 
his exclamation — " A minuit — par le Maison Rouge ! " and proved 
that that was where we drifted, and where they came at the appointed 




Le Pont Neuf. 79 



hour to find one of us ; little dreaming, I suppose, that the man who 
passed them on the bridge had discovered their murderous attempt, 
and been so fortunate as to save the intended victim. Then, together 
with the two gendarmes, I described the conversation we had over- 
heard whilst the ruffians were sitting waiting for the supposed corpse 
to float ashore. Adele's evidence effectually confirmed the case 
against the prisoners at the bar, whom she recognised as the men 
that had rushed upon her from behind the statue of Henri Quatre, 
in the middle of the bridge, and who had then lifted her up and 
thrown her into the river. 

At this stage of the proceedings the leading savage turned 
crown evidence in the hope of saving himself. Even this seemed 
incapable of exciting his idiotic companion, who merely gave a curse, 
and then relapsed into his old state of careless indifference. From 
beginning to end the monster confessed the whole horrible story of 
how, in order to obtain the paltry reward given by the authorities to 
those who took dead bodies from the Seine and carried them to the 
Morgue, he and his companion had for years been in the habit of 
increasing the number by laying in wait for any weak and unwary 
passenger, and tossing the poor unfortunate over the Pont Neuf, 
knowing that from there the body would drift ashore near the Maison 
Rouge. 

Fortunately for justice (though the wretch had confessed, and it 
was impossible to bring directly home to either of them any particu- 
lar case of murder), although these atrocious criminals escaped with 
their lives, it is, at least, doubtful whether penal servitude for life — 
the sentence they received — is not a greater punishment. 

Paris was edified, justice appeased, and Adele is my wife ; and 
so ends this authentic narrative concerning Le Pont Neuf. 



THE LOG. 

January (^tk. 

Midnight. — We were all acquainted with the charming Adele, 
and it may easily be imagined what a tempest of congratulations 
greeted the conclusion of the merchant's yarn. Many a man would be 
only too glad to risk his life for the chance of obtaining so beauteous 
and accomplished a bride as the fair partner of our friend Lawrence ; 
lucky dog that he was ! — though / cannot complain, as will be seen 
by-and-by. Nevertheless, he was exceedingly lucky, for nothing but 
most unusual swimming qualities could possibly have saved either of 
their lives, and here is where he had the luck — those qualities were 
his. Many people may feel inclined to doubt the possibility of such 
a swim in, and escape from, the Seine, but then they have not known 
the gentleman to whom the adventure occurred, or their doubts 
would cease. We, knowing his aquatic powers, nothing doubted. 
In fact, supply him with provisions, and I verily believe that he could 
swim from London to New York, 

" Ah !" sighed Esmond, " happy fellow — happy fellow, Lawrence! 
I wish that I had such a wife." 

Then my poor old chum, mechanically as it were, lighted a fresh 
manilla, and sank back in his chair with a painful, strained expres- 
sion fixed upon his handsome features. Poor fellow ! He envied 



The Log. 8i 

our happy friend. Perhaps he thought of the unfortunate Se-she, and 
regretted the fair young thing that sacrificed her Hfe in saving his. 

What with the conversation, inquiries, and reveries produced by 
the merchant's story, time flew by unheeded on the wing, and Esmond 
forgot to call the " Angel " and order supper, till at last ting ting 
went the bell, and Jack Backstay, starting from the brown study into 
which he had fallen, electrified us all by the formidable tones in which 
he shouted — 

" By the hump on the back of Mahomet's big camel — and that 
was as big as the Rock of Gibraltar — there's two bells (one 
o'clock a.m.) striking ! " 

Just then the " Angel" intruded his expansive physiognomy round 
the corner of the pantry, and, addressing Esmond, said — 

" Master, one o'clock have makee : more bettah mi puttee 
supper ? " 

" Ah — can do, can do," cried our skipper, waking up and rousing 
himself with an effort from the long and sorrowful reverie upon which 
the loud-voiced Jack had broken. 

yanuary i oth. 

As the evening of this day displayed a decided attachment 
to the cold and rain that had prevailed since sunrise, we mustered 
around the cuddy stove at an earlier hour than usual, and spent 
the interval before eight bells in talking and yarning upon various 
matters ; amongst others, the subject of ghosts became broached. 
The doctor was a very firm believer in these supernatural gentry, 
but every one else, except Jack Backstay, laughed at him. That 
sturdy mariner, however, seemed seriously impressed with the sub- 
ject, and, like the sailor's parrot, although he did not talk much, 



82 The Log of the Fortuna, 



was, no doubt, a deuce of a fellow to think. This set me scheming^, 
as it was my turn to tell the first of the tales I had promised, and I 
had not yet formed the most remote idea of what my yarn was to be 
about. But now ghosts got into my head, and I determined to give 
both Jack and the doctor a dose. 

Precisely as eight bells struck I astonished my ready audience 
by informing them that I intended to give them a ghost story — the 
more so, no doubt, as I had wisely observed a discreet reticence 
during the late argument. 

Dr. O'Kilorkure sprang up from his seat, overjoyed at finding, 
as he thought, another supporter of his faith in the spirit world. In 
the excitement of the moment his brogue came out pretty strong, as 
he cried — 

" Ah, thin, I tould ye so ! Bravo, me boy, bravo ! It's yerself 
that 'ill know how to prove the thruth that ghosts exist. Sure now, 
me boys, what 'ill ye have to say to the three of us, eh ? The 
majority carries the day, to be sure it does ! Hooroo ! Fire away ! 
Go ahead, me boy ! " 

Upon receiving this conjurgation, I began my yarn at once. It 
is an old story that I heard at sea years ago. 



ilp ffiv^t gam* 
THE GHOST ON BOARD THE "IMOGENE.'^ 

A LEGEND OF THE SEA. 

Ah, my friends, I fancy you will exclaim, when you hear the title of 
my story, " not a very pleasant thing that." A ghost on board ship ! 
Yes, most assuredly such a visitation zs unpleasant ; in fact, we may 
venture to affirm, without fear of contradiction, that it is decidedly 
unwelcome and terrible. 

Now, long-shore folk are sometimes trouoled with visitors — or, 
what is almost as satisfactory, imagine that they are — from the other 
world. When this is the case — when dreadful and sanguinary murder 
is supposed to have- been committed within the haunted walls ; when 
one of the former inmates of the house is supposed to have died in a 
strange, mysterious manner, and ever afterwards to make uneasy 
manifestations of spirit (indeed, in such cases there is generally a 
superabundance of spirits) — when these things happen, all that has 
to be done is to pack up and move to the next street or so. 

Doors may creak and shake during the stilly hours of the night, 
as though invisible forms were passing in and out, but not forgetting 
to make a noise to jar one's nerves. Strange, inexplicable sounds 
may be heard reverberating throughout the dull, old-fashioned 
house. The forms of anciently-murdered, frilled, faded, and fur- 
belowed ladies are seen gliding about, as the straggling moonbeams 

G 2 



84 The Log of the Fortuna. 

play through the diamond panes, and dance fantastically along the 
old and dusty corridors. A rustling silken dress and a pointing hand 
generally finish up this picture, with, perhaps, a sad, mournful 
expression of its ghastly countenance, if the narrator has been for- 
tunate enough to see the spectral features of outraged and unavenged 
innocence ; or the presence is described as having vanished into thin 
air, with a low wail of agony, &c., if the ghost beholder happened to 
hear more than he or she could see. Yet, no m.atter how hysterical 
or superstitious a person may be, these things can always be avoided 
on terra Jirma, for there is plenty of room. The haunted places 
may be left hundreds of miles behind, and the individual troubled by 
such unearthly appearances can cut and run. But how is a ghost 
to be dodged if it takes up its unearthly quarters on board ship ? 

You cannot give warning and quit the premises if you are of a 
temper which prefers peace to parley, and which ghosts agitate; 
neither can you have the melancholy satisfaction of calling in Police- 
man X if )ou should happen to be of a stubborn disposition — a sort 
of person who likes to fight things out, especially with the majesty of 
the law on the right side, even when they are positively mysterious, 
if not supernatural. If you are ever so pugnaciously inclined, you 
cannot take a bottle of brandy, a brace of six-chambered revolver 
rifles, and a plucky friend, wherewith to make a night of it by the 
side of a blazing fire, and settle the ghost, because, on board such a 
ship as the Iniogene, there are no more cats than catch mice ; neither 
bottles of brandy nor sacks of coal to be obtained from the next shop, 
nor friends plucky enough to waste their watch below in looking for 
impalpable spirits when they are pretty well occupied with the duties 
of watch and watch. 

Cooped within the narrow limits of a six hundred ton ship, the 



The ' Ghost on board the Imogene. 85 

land hundreds of miles away, a waste of waters all around, and 
nothing but a few frail planks between life and eternity, it is not 
difficult to imaofine the terrible situation of those doomed to a lonof, 
wearisome, monotonous voyage, with some supernatural presence to 
make their isolated little home quite hideous. 

People may talk as they please about the increase of civilisation 
and the decrease of ignorant superstition, but, nevertheless, the fact 
that their neighbours are just as full as ever with mysterious 
occurrences and ghost stories remains patent. 

On the 9th day of September, 18 — , the good ship Imogene 
left the London Docks, bound to Bombay, E.I. Captain Grey, 
her commander, was one of the best seamen and smartest young 
skippers sailing out of England. Her crew, all told, numbered 
twenty-three persons. When the ship's articles were signed, the 
shipping master had said — 

" Well, captain, I think you have as fine a crew as ever trod 
plank, or left this office ; but I must say I don't exactly like the look 
of that last hand." 

" What, the man I picked up in place of the one that was taken 
ill and could not sign ? " the captain said. 

" Ay, that's the fellow. ' A Rhode Island horse,' I heard him 
* kalkerlating ' he was, as he left the office, disputing about the time 
to get his traps aboard." 

" Ah, Mr. Shippem, the man cannot help his looks," said Captain 
Grey. " His characters are all ' very good.' " 

" Well, sir, he may be a good man, but I certainly don't like 
' the cut of his jib ; ' but it is your affair, and, as you have taken him 
as sailmaker, you'll have many opportunities to study his physiognomy 
when he's patching up your ^ flying kites ' on the poop — a work that, 



86 



The Log of the Fortuna 




ELI BOGGS. 



by all accounts, he will get In 
plenty, for you have a regular 
reputation as a ' carrying on ' 
skipper." 

And so the subject dropped. 

EH Boggs, of Rhode Island, 
U.S. of America, orot on board 
with the rest of the crew, duly 
drunk and helpless, the moment 
before she cast off from the 
Dock Heads and had the end of 
a steam-tug's tow-rope hitched 
round her forecastle bitts. 

Nothing worthy of notice 
took place until the Imogene 
had crossed the Line. Although 
Captain Grey had not yet found 
reason to repent his choice of a 
sailmaker, he had seen enough 
to convince him that that in- 
dividual was really a disagree- 
able and dangerous character, 
in spite of the "very goods" 
inscribed on his certificates. No 
particular act had caused this 
belief — in fact, the captain would 
have been puzzled to give any 
satisfactory reason for it ; but 
many little things, and a certain 



The Ghost on board the I mo gene. 87 



strangeness about the man, seemed to make him generally disliked 
on board. 

The personal appearance of Eli Boggs was unequivocally dead 
against him. Bony, gaunt, and lank were his proportions. Long, 
straight, and limp was the hair about his head and face. His eyes 
were stony, hollow, and immovable — as one might imagine the eyes, 
of a dead serpent, only they seemed, somehow, like the slight cover- 
ing of a hidden volcano. Silent, morose, and vindictive he certainly 
was : just the sort of man a slight offence would make a deadly 
enemy. 

Eli Boggs had a very Yankee and unpleasant habit of squirting 
over the decks huge jets of tobacco-juice that always filled his 
mouth. He had frequently been taken to task by the officers, but 
as he did not heed their orders, they at last complained to their 
superior. 

Captain Grey was by no means harsh or tyrannical with his 
men ; he happily combined the suaviter in modo with the fortiter 
in re, and withal had a way that was easily understood to mean 
that there was not the slightest compulsion, only you must obey. 
When the sailmaker was hauled up before the " old man " (as sailors 
say), he fully experienced this sentiment, and as — according to 
another inveterate habit — he listened to the censure with his head 
bent down, his chin almost touching his chest, whilst gazing stonily 
forth beneath his bent brows, his appearance was remarkably sinister 
and forbidding. 

The steward had, somehow, been mixed up in this affair. 
Either the sailmaker had squirted his tobacco-juice over some clean 
mats that the former had put out to dry, or he had stained some 
canvas covers belonging to the cabin ; at all events, the steward was 



The Log of the Fortuna. 



instrumental in getting his allowance of grog stopped, and thouo-h 
Eli Boggs said nothing, yet his yellow-mottled, cadaverous face 
ever afterwards seemed to turn quite green with suppressed passion 
when that individual approached him. 

Some weeks had elapsed, and the ship, having caught the 
welcome " sou'-west trades," was dashino- through the water at the 
rate of eight or nine knots an hour, with the starboard main tack 
clewed up, and stun'-sails alow and aloft on the same side, when the 
vengeance that Eli Boggs cherished against the steward burst 
forth. 

The captain and officers were down below at dinner, having left 
the boatswain in charge of the deck (as is usual in such steady winds 
and fine weather). Eli Boggs was working at an old foretopsail, 
spread out on the poop. While shifting this sail as he worked, part 
of it became drawn over the cabin skylight. Immediately afterwards 
the steward came running up on deck, and began hauling away at 
the canvas which darkened the dinner-table below. Unfortunately, 
whilst so engaged, and as he was vexed at being interrupted in his 
duties in the cabin, probably more violent than was necessary, he 
managed to drag part of the topsail out of the sailmaker's hands, 
at the same time jerking away the latter's sail-hook, and catching 
him by the leg with it. 

No sooner did Eli BosfSfs feel the instrument tearinof his flesh, 
than he sprang from his bench, pulled the hook from his bleeding leg, 
and rushed savagely upon the offender. In a moment the steward 
was overpowered and struck senseless to the deck. Not satisfied with 
this, the enraged sailmaker continued assaulting him more like a wild 
beast than a rational being. He foamed at the mouth; his usually 
stony eyes glared horribly, dilated, and seemed starting from their 



The Ghost on board the Imogene. 89 



caverns ; while his lips were livid as his face, and were drawn tightly- 
back from the teeth. He jumped on the prostrate man, kicking him 
about the head, face, and body with his heavy sea-boots, and exertino- 
all his immense strength. He knelt on the poor man's chest, and 
throttled him with one hand whilst hammering away with the other. 

By this time the officers and many of the crew had rushed to the 
spot. Certainly they were not a moment too soon for saving the 
steward's life ; but it was not till Eli Boggs had his arms nearly 
broken by repeated blows from an iron belaying-pin wielded by the 
third mate, that his deadly grasp became relaxed. When at length 
dragged from his helpless victim, he turned like a madman upon those 
endeavouring to restrain him, and was not secured in hand and foot 
irons before seriously hurting several of them. 

In consequence of this affair he was kept a week in confinement; 
then disrated and sent before the mast — i.e., reduced to a common 
seaman. 

Henceforth all hands, fore and aft, were against him, and he was 
against all hands. Although there were powerful men — brave and 
active — in the forecastle, all seemed to dread the outcast's herculean 
strength ; no one appeared anxious to get in his way as he strode 
moodily about the decks, muttering threats of vengeance against 
every one on board. Dark, savage, and mysterious, this disagreeable 
character seemed admirably suited for the sanguinary and merciless 
pirate it became rumoured that he had been. 

One exception there was to the otherwise universal detestation 
in which the disrated sailmaker was held by his shipmates. Friday, 
the black cook, was that exception. 

This coloured individual was not one of those popular sort of 
funny, good-tempered, evangelical niggers one may hear of at Exeter 



90 



The Log of the Fortuna. 



Hall, where, every now and then, at appropriate opportunities, a 
" stage property" kind of negro, well got up in white choker, &c., is 
produced, and whose appearance is hailed with a mild and generally 
benignant enthusiasm, followed by a corresponding flow of contribu- 
tions — well meant, no doubt, but inde- 
finite, very. Far from being of this 
style of show darky, Friday was a 
very low type of African ; and if 
Robinson Crusoe's man had been 
anything like him, that celebrated cast- 
away would certainly have preferred 
seeing him eaten by the cannibals. 

The ferocious attack on the 
steward seemed to delio-ht the cook 
beyond measure ; it may be that some 
quarrel existed between the two — an 
occurrence by no means uncommon 
in the case of individuals holding their 
respective berths on board ship. Ever 
^^^°'^"^'- afterwards Friday appeared to enter- 

tain a profound admiration for Eli 
Boggs. The black savage and the savage white, as they became more 
and more estranged from the rest of the crew, daily increased the friend- 
ship that had arisen between them in consequence of their similar 
sympathies and nature. In the dog-watches, and often during the 
calm tropical nights, the two might be seen yarning together — at least, 
Friday was always the listener, and many were his hoarse peals of 
laughter when particularly amused by his comrade's observations. 
Several of the crew had overheard the conversation at such times, and 




The Ghost on board the Imogene. 91 

they declared that the few words they had caught were of the most 
bloodthirsty and ferocious import, seemingly relative to former deeds 
of the narrator. 

One night, shortly after the former sailmaker had taken up his 
quarters in the forecastle, a great uproar was heard by the watch on 
deck. Before they could ascertain the cause, they were astonished to 
see the watch below come tumbling up, half dressed, and more or less 
just as they had turned in after being relieved a couple of hours 
before. These men had been hard worked durinof their hours of 
duty, shortening sail and making all snug aloft for increasing wind and 
squally weather; therefore, it was quite certain that something very 
extraordinary must have taken place to rouse them out at three bells, 
before their watch below had half terminated,. Not only were these 
facts well calculated to excite the surprise of those on deck, but the 
pale, terrified appearance of the disturbed men plainly told them that 
something serious was the matter. 

Attracted by the clamour, the officer of the watcn came running 
forward, yet, although his language was rather more forcible than 
elegant, it was some little time before he could elicit the fact that the 
affrighted watch below had been driven on deck by something which 
they all declared to be a ghost. The officer's energetic protestations 
were uselessly employed to pacify the men and induce them to re-enter 
the forecastle and turn in again ; he w^as, therefore, obliged to send for 
a lantern, rouse out the boatswain, and institute a search. 

When Mr. Pipes arrived on deck, armed with a huge globe 
lamp, and evidently by no means delighted at being disturbed, he 
soundly rated each superstitious sailor as he held the light close to 
his face whilst cursing him. The boatswain was a fine sturdy speci- 
men of a British seaman ; but, in spite of the authority he usually 



92 The Log of the Fortuna. 



possessed over the crew, not a man moved to obey his reiterated 
order to go below. 

"Why, you cowardly lubbers!" said he; "d'ye call yourselves 
men, eh ? " 

Then, after consigning their eyes and limbs to certain warm 
regions, he continued — 

" Poor little dears ! They should have brought their Ma's to 
sea to take care of 'em and keep off bogies, they should. Stand 
clear, there ! Let me put you to bed again — you great, big, hulking 
hinfants — like Joe Bowse's hairy hinfants you are, I guess, about six 
feet bigger than a man. Come along, then ! Naughty ghosts to 
frighten little hinnocents ! " 

Saying which, he entered the forecastle, followed by a couple of 
men who had mustered up sufficient courage to accompany him, and 
whose frightened, shivering appearance contrasted oddly enough with 
their muscular frames, bronzed features, and great bushy beards. 

The first object that caught the eye of the boatswain was the 
black cook, huddled up in a corner of his bunk, livid — or, rather, 
leaden-coloured — with fear, and muttering incoherently to himself, 
while his large goggle eyes seemed bursting from their yellow sockets. 

Some moments elapsed ere the unhappy nigger could be brought 
to his senses ; even then he could only ejaculate — 

" Fetish ! Fetish ! Obi man ! Dat's him ; dat's him ! " 

Upon looking in the direction indicated, and lifting his lantern 
as high as possible, the boatswain saw Eli Boggs, to all appearance 
fast asleep and blissfully oblivious to all the troubles of his watch- 
mates. Before, however, the searchers could make a movement 
towards him, they were startled and terribly alarmed by the following 
sepulchral exclamation — 



The Ghost on board the Imogene. 93 

" Friday, tell no lies ! It was not Eli Boggs, but I, who spoke." 

Even the stalwart boatswain now became infected with super- 
stitious fear. That hollow, ghostly voice came from the darkest end 
of the black cook's berth ; but, when the three explorers overhauled 
that part, nothing could be seen, though one of the men afterwards 
affirmed that he had seen a dark shadow flit swiftly through the fore- 
castle. 

The two sailors rushed back on deck, but their leader went up to 
Eli Boggs where he lay calmly sleeping in his bunk right forward in 
" the eyes " of the ship. It took several rough shakes to awake him, 
and when he comprehended that the boatswain accused him of playing 
the ghost to frighten his shipmates, he swore a savage oath, and then 
rolled over to sleep again, exclaiming, 

" Bo'sun, don't bother me with sich tarnation stiff yarns ! I 
kalkerlate it's my next wheel, an' I want to sleep." 

Even as these words were dying away, a scornful laugh sounded 
from the darker part of the forecastle ; but as the boatswain in alarm 
let fall his lantern, he was unable to see who or what it was. Groping 
his way to the forecastle door, he fell over the raised wooden grooves 
in which it slid, and scattered the assembled crew by his sudden 
appearance, as well as by the noise of his fall. 

By this time the ship was in a state of confusion fore and aft. 
The captain had been called, and he now gave orders to turn all 
hands out and muster them on the quarter-deck. This was soon 
accomplished, for nearly all were there already. 

The ship was at this time in the latitude of the Cape of Good 
Hope, and as the wind — which had now increased to a moderate gale 
— whistled and sanof through the cordage, the men who had been 
frightened half clad from their berths shivered and shook with the 



94 The Log of the Fortuna. 

cold. Two deck lanterns were lighted and hung up at the break 
of the poop, where Captain Grey then proceeded to address 
his crew. 

" Men," said he, " what is the cause of this disturbance ? Has 
any one been skylarking with the watch below ? " 

" No, sir ! It's a ghost aboard. A Jonah in the ship," &c. &c., 
came in chorus from the hands. 

The officer of the watch, having communicated with the com- 
mander, called upon the boatswain to stand forward and tell what he 
had seen. When Mr. Pipes had described the incident that took 
place in the forecastle. Jack Jigger, the man who had seen the shade 
or shadow, was called upon for his statement. 

" Well, my man, what did you see ?" the captain asked. 

" Ay, ay, sir ; I'll jist be afther tellin' what I seed. Sure, thin, 
I follered th' bo'sun inter th' fo'ks'le, an', all ov a suddint, jist while 
we was a-lookin' at the docthor, (^) what should I hear but th' same 
ghost as druv us out ov th' fo'ks'le. ' Friday,' it says, ' yer black son 
ov a sea cook, don't tell no lies, or I'll carry yer away on th' end ov 
me grains. (~) It was me as spake, it wasn't Eli Boggs, nivir th' bit.' 
Well, sir, axin' yer pardin, I makes bould t' say as how any one aboard 
would ha' felt his heart go up an' down like a brig's boom in a calm 
— jist as mine did ; so I slews round, an' gave sheet t' get on deck 
again ; but, as I tried to, dowse me topHghts ! if I didn't see the ghost 
a-makin' off, with his tail atween his legs, an' his toastin'-fork over 
his riorht shoulder " 

" Why, how's that, my man ? I am told that you merely said 
you thought you saw a shadow," interrupted the captain. 

Q) The ship's cook. (2) A kind of harpoon used for spearing fish. 



The Ghost on board the Imogene. 95 



*' Thrue, sir. But I was kind ov flabergasted thin ; now Til 
take me Bible oath I seed the ghost as I said afore — horns, tail, an' 
toastin'-fork. His eyes were more nor a foot wide, an' shinin' like a 
couple ov red-hot sixty-eight pound shot in the middle ov a cask ov 
gunpowther. His " 

" Stop a moment, Jack Jigger," said Captain Grey. " If the 
ghost had its back turned, and you could see its tail, how could its 
face be visible at the same time ?" 

After a momentary hesitation, the Irish sailor continued — 

" Why, d'ye see, sir, I saw its face first. It turned round an' 
looked at me as it was runnin' away. Yes, by Saint Pathrick ! I'll 
swear t' that. His tail was about three fathom long, an' th' end ov 
it was coiled round an' round his neck. All ov a suddent he vanished 
in th' middle ov a flash of flamin' lightnin', an' th' sthrong smell ov 
brimstone made me kind ov so as I felt as if I'd been keelhauled, an' 
was bein' rolled in a water-cask." 

At this moment the ghost interrupted the description. 

" Ha, ha, ha ! " A lonsf and Satanic lauorh seemed to come from 
the weather side of the poop, close to the captain, when not a soul 
could be seen, though Jack Jigger and several others declared that 
they had seen a great black shape, with fiery eyes and flaming breath, 
far away on the weather quarter. 

The consternation of the crew was now intense. They thought 
themselves doomed — they thought of the " Flying Dutchman " and 
a hundred other sailor ghost stories ; and, to add to their troubles, the 
weather was rapidly getting worse, with strong squalls, heavy sea, 
and threatening appearances. 

Captain Grey turned pale for a moment, and his courageous 
spirit quailed a little, but he sharply cried — 



96 The Log of the Fortuna. 

" Now, my lads, who was it that laughed ? Pass him to the front." 

A short silence succeeded. Then that bitter, mocking- laugh rano- 
from the maintop, and, barely heard above the howling of the wind, 
came these words — 

" I spoke — Captain Grey. You — are all^ — doomed !" 

Although the master of the Imogene now felt awed by the 
supernatural mystery, he still tried to encourage his men by appearing 
calm and fearless. He knew perfectly well that all hands were on 
deck before him, but, in order to prevent the crew reflecting upon the 
same fact, he shouted in a quick, commanding tone — 

" Two hands jump up aloft, one on each side, and find out who 
that is in the maintop. Some of you run for'ard, men, and see that 
no one comes down by the stays." 

Nearly all hands ran along the main-deck, but not a man moved 
to go aloft. 

" D'ya^ hear there, men ?" the captain cried again ; but no one 
replied. 

Then, turning to his chief officer, he said — 

" Mr. Bowline, a couple of officers must go aloft ; the hands are 
too frightened. Bear a hand, if you please, for we must take in 
another reef directly, and we shall never be able to do it while the 
men are in this state." 

" Ay, ay, sir," replied the mate. " There does seem to be some- 
thing more than the two ta'gallant stun'sails in the top ; but it is 
impossible to see clearly through the gloom." 

Then, very complacently, he requested his subordinates — the 
second and third mates — to fulfil the captain's order. 

These two were scarcely less perturbed than the rest of the 
crew, for sailors — whether before the mast or on the quarter-deck — 




II 



The Ghost on board the Imogene. 99 

are all superstitious, and in this case even the most sceptical would 
have been either frightened or nearly convinced that ghosts were not 
mythical. The officers hesitated for a moment between their fears 
and duty, but then the third mate — a blue-eyed, curly-haired, hand- 
some young sailor — ran to the lee main-rigging, turning to the second 
ofhcer as he did so, and saying — 

" Come, Mister Snatchblock, let us show the men the way aloft 
— ghost or no ghost. I'll go up to loo'ard." 

The second mate sprang to the weather shrouds. When the 
crew saw their officers going first, two of them felt sufficiently 
encouragfed to follow. 

The maintop was reached ; but no one could be found there ; 
though the third mate ran up to the cross-trees to make sure, not 
the vestige of a human being could be discovered aloft. Before 
the searchers had descended to the deck, the terrible visitor was 
heard, seemingly in the foretop — 

" Ha, ha, ha !" it laughed, above the whistling of the gale; " ha, 
ha, ha!" 

" There it is ! There It is !" cried several of the crew, and, their 
courage having been raised by the action of their officers, they began 
to ascend the fore-rigging, thinking that they saw a man crouching 
in the top, which, however, they had no sooner reached than the 
ghost was heard under the long-boat, amidships. 

Still that awful laugh was heard, first in one place and then in 
another, while the night became so dark that it was impossible to 
detect anything aloft. The affrighted crew were in a great state of 
terror, imagining a supernatural being in every tall shadow that 
appeared through the haze. 

Scarcely a man on board doubted but that an evil spirit had 

H 2 



lOO ' The Log of the Fortuna. 

taken possession of the ship. The captain went below to consult with 
his officers : the men were all huddled together forward, listening to 
their favourite spokesman. Eli Boggs and Friday were left to them- 
selves ; the former seeming the only man on board not frightened 
at the ghost, whilst the latter kept close by his side as though he 
were a protecting god, and, dumb with terror, listened to his horrible 
ghostly tales, related in a voice loud enough for nearly all the crew to 
hear. Eli Boggs, at length tired of exciting his shipmates' fears, went 
below, whither he was quickly followed by his sable friend. As they 
disappeared, Jack Kelson, the forecastle oracle, addressed his cowering 
audience — 

*' Look'ee here, my hearties," said he, "there's a Jonah aboard 
this ship ! It's no use backing and filling about it, no how ; there's a 
Jonah aboard; an' I makes bould to say as how you've all been 
heddified by a-hearing ov his familyar speerit skylarking fore an' aft 
the old * hooker's ' decks, an' dodging about her spars." 

" What's the matter. Bill ?" the speaker suddenly asked a man, 
who belonged to the watch below, and whose teeth chattered as he 
started up (being only half clad), and replied — 

" Ja-Ja-Jack, I sa-saw the ghost !" 

" Where ? where ? " shouted a dozen voices. 

" Wa-walking aft under the lee of the ma-main trysail," said Bill. 

The ghost, however, had disappeared, and nothing could be seen 
except when an occasional straggling ray of moonlight would pene- 
trate the flying scud overhead, and raise shadows that changed and 
played with every roll of the plunging vessel. 

Jack Kelson resumed his address — 

" Well, messmates, it's no use playing fanny-naddy not no more. 
It's proved there's a Jonah on the ship's articles, an' " 



The Ghost on board the Imogene. ioi 

" There it is! I'm sure I saw it," interrupted another sailor, 
pointing up aloft. 

All hands looked as directed, and several thought that they 
could see something, especially Jack Jigger, who once more began to 
describe the ghost's very unfavourable appearance. The men were 
thoroughly unnerved, and were startled at every sound or shadow. 

At length Jack Kelson continued — 

'^ Look'ee here, my boys ; what we want to find out is — who's 
the Jonah ? When I was afore the mast in the old Kent, on a v'yage 
to Moulmein, we had a Jonah aboard. Well, shiver my timbers ! if 
we didn't find him out, an' knock off work till the skipper put into the 
hisland of Flores an' sent him ashore. Howsomedever, there was no 
familyar speerit (as the skollards say) in that case ; on'y we got 
nothing but dead calms, or gales ov wind lashed together an' blowing 
right on end. Either the canvas was flapping for want ov wind, or 
else it was blown out ov the bolt-ropes with too much ; an' at last we 
lost our three topmasts, jib-boom, an' nearly every sail on board. A 
long-shore beach-comber, who shipped as Jemmy Ducks, Q was the 
Jonah — 'cos why } 'Cos he was always a-sulking and a mutterin' to 
hisself like Eli Boggs there (pointing in the direction of the fore- 
castle). I remember I was once quartermaster in an opium smuggler, 
an' there we pitched a Jonah overboard — a whinin', snivellin' sort 
ov a lubber, who was always a-makin' long draw-bucket faces, an' 
speechifyin' like a Methody parson to a school ov niggers in Jimaky. 
Howsomedever, that's neither here nor there. Now, I means to say 
that Eli Boggs, or the nigger, or the pair ov 'em,'s the Jonah here ! 
Consequendly, if we all stick together, an' knock off work unless the 

Q) A sobriquet given to the landsman who attends to the poultry on board ship. 



102 The Log of the Fortuna. 



skipper puts into the Cape an' lands 'em, I guess we'll make him do 
it ; an' so we'll part company with the Jonah, ghost an' all. There- 
fore, I calls upon you to speak up, my hearties. Speak up, an' let us 
see if we're all goin' to pull in the same boat ! " 

Several men had their say, and all agreed to act as Jack Kelson 
advised, deputing him to state their determination to the captain. 
However, before this could be done, all hands were called to put the 
ship about, the wind having veered to the south, rendering it neces- 
sary to place her upon the other tack in order to lay her course. 

The men were accordingly seen to their stations by the officers ; 
arrangements were made to take in another reef directly the 
manoeuvre had been completed ; then the chief mate reported from 
his station on the forecastle to his superior on the poop, " All ready, 
sir! 

Th2 captain ordered the helm to be put down, giving the com- 
mand, " Hard a-lee !" when the jib and fore-sheets were let go. As 
the ship flew up in the wind, and her sails began to shake, he gave 
the order, *' Raise tacks and sheets !" 

So far well and good ; but no sooner had the courses commenced 
to flap, than the men stationed at the main braces received, as they 
thought, the command from the captain, " Mainsail haul !" The lee 
braces were cast loose, and round flew the main-yard ; but, having 
been hauled too soon, while the wind was yet broad on the weather 
bow, the ship missed stays and would not come round. 

Captain Grey ran aft in a passion, and soundly rated the men for 
having hauled the main-yard without orders. This they denied, for 
each of them had plainly heard the words, " Mainsail haul !" 

The after-yards were filled again, and when the ship had 
gathered good head-way, the attempt to " stay " her was renewed. 



The Ghost on board the Imogene. 103 

" Put the helm down ! " the captain sang out. 

'* Hard down it is, sir!" duly responded the man at the wheel ; 
but scarcely had he shifted a dozen spokes when he received an order 
to " Put the helm up again !" 

The ship came up and shook in the wind, but, the helm catching 
her as it was shifted, she fell off again, just as the skipper shouted, 
" Tacks and sheets !" 

The ghost had interfered with the captain's orders as before, and 
the manoeuvre was again foiled ; there was not time to try it any 
more, for the squalls now came so strong that it was absolutely neces- 
sary to reef down without delay. Orders were given to clew up the 
mainsail, brail in the spanker, and let go the topsail halyards, so as to 
" wear " ship while the yards were clewed down for reefing. 

Although the ghost still interfered, and many of the crew swore 
that they had seen it — each man giving a different account — it was 
not able to prevent the success of the fresh manoeuvre, as the captain, 
after seeing the helm put up, stood by the main braces himself, and 
kept the after-yards shaking, whilst the chief officer trimmed the 
fore-yards as the ship fell oft before the wind and came-to on the 
other tack. 

The crew were now ordered aloft to take in another reef. Not a 
man moved to obey. Then Jack Kelson went to the captain and 
told him that all hands refused duty unless he put the ship before the 
wind and ran for the Cape of Good Hope, in order to land Eli Boggs 
and the black cook. 

In any other instance Captain Grey would have taken prompt 
measures to suppress the slightest symptoms of mutiny ; but the 
present case was too exceptional and extraordinary. It was so 
palpable that the ship could not be navigated under the circum- 



I04 The Log of the Fortuna. 

stances — officers and men alike being infected with the gravest super- 
stition, and incapacitated with dread of the ghost — that he felt justified 
in yielding to the unanimous wish of the crew. After a few moments* 
consultation with his officers, he gave orders to square away the 
yards, shake out the reefs that had been previously taken in, and 
run before the wind on a direct course to the Cape. 

During two days the Iinogene scudded before the gale, and 
then the great square top of Table Mountain loomed up above the 
clouds, obscuring the horizon ahead. 

Meanwhile, the ghost had continued its malignant pranks, till 
every one on board was at his wit's end, though nothing had 
transpired to elucidate the mystery. Watch and watch became a 
farce, for all hands kept the deck during the interval until the land 
was made, Eli Boggs and Friday being the only exceptions ; the 
former, seemingly delighted at the supernatural visitation, was often 
seen chuckling to himself when his shipmates were terrified more 
than usual. He regularly turned in during his watch below, having 
the forecastle entirely to himself and Friday, who, since the first 
alarm, had followed, cowed and timorous, at his heel. The unfortu- 
nate African seemed totally bereft of what little reason he ever 
possessed, and, being quite unfit for duty, one of the seamen took his 
place in charge of the galley and coppers. 

At last Table Bay opened out to the view of the weary crew, 
and made their hearts beat with exultation at the prospect of getting 
rid of the ghost or Jonah. Before, however, the ship could enter the 
bay, it was necessary to place her on a wind and beat up to the distant 
anchorage ; to do so it was requisite that the topsails should be reefed 
again, and the weather became so bad that it was impossible to reach 
the harbour during five days. 



The Ghost on board the Imogens. 105 

The main-topsail had been reefed, and the hands, with the 
exception of two still busy at the weather earing, were laying out to 
reef the mainsail, when the ghost came to disturb them again. One 
of those still on the topsail yardarm happened to be the third mate ; 
he was just getting inside the lift, and feeling for the foot-rope, when 
the unearthly cry resounded in his ear — 

" Die ! Die ! Your life is mine ! " 

Uttered, as these words seemed to be, by some invisible spirit, 
they were quite sufficient to unnerve the bravest of the Imogenes 
crew. Startled while in so precarious a position, the young officer 
lost his hold and fell from the yard. Singularly enough, Eli Boggs, 
being on the lee quarter of the main-yard, was knocked off by the 
third mate, who struck against him in his fall. Both were picked up 
on deck, mortally injured. 

The third mate expired early on the morning of the day suc- 
ceeding the accident. Captain Grey and the second mate (the dying 
youth's particular friend) were ministering at his bedside till the end, 
more like tender women than such great rough seamen. The last 
words of the dying officer were, " My mother ! oh, my mother ! " 

Long may that desolate, fair-haired, gentle mother wait for the 
return of her darling sailor son — curly and fair-haired too ; and 
vainly may she watch in the gloaming from her peaceful cottage 
door ; but never — never till the sea gives up its dead — may they meet 
again ; for the boy she loved far better than worldly joy, or life itself, 
lies among the tangled weeds, and strange, slimy, unknown monsters, 
fathoms — hundreds of fathoms deep — on the treacherous ocean's bed. 
Never more may her fingers play lovingly with those almost girlish 
tresses, for slowly, monotonously, and lifelessly are they washed 
backwards and forwards, to and fro, by the heaving of the sea upon 



io6 The Log of the Fortuna. 



his resting-place. That brave, merry, generous Hfe has fled for ever, 
and what remains of its earthly tabernacle is still and quiet — so 
quiet — at the bottom of the sea. Curious, gigantic marine plants 
twist and twine— loathsome creatures creep and crawl — about all that 
is left of the hapless victim to a malignant though punished revenge ! 

The day after the unfortunate young officer's body had been 
consigned to the deep, the weather moderated, and the ship was 
enabled to anchor before Cape Town. Eli Boggs was carried ashore 
to the hospital, whither his friend Friday attended him. Three fresh 
hands were engaged, and the Imogene proceeded on her voyage, 
no longer haunted, the ghost having entirely disappeared ; whereat 
Jack Kelson took great credit unto himself 

The death of Eli Boggs took place a few days later. He 
became conscious shortly before dissolution, and able, for the first 
time since the accident, to say a few words to his only friend and 
sympathiser. 

" Oh, Massa — Obi Massa ! Guess you's a-gwine to die ! " 
howled the subdued Friday, as he saw the shadow of death 
stealins: athwart the features of his sinister associate. 

" Wall, I kal-ker-late I'm a — a gone coon/' Eli Boggs cried 
with an expiring effort. "Revenge — re-venge, Friday. I — I 
scotched — my own back — I — reckon. Sorry now. Friday — you 

— can — tell 'em — I'm a — a ," and as Friday bent his ear to the 

dying man's mouth, he just caught the word *' ventriloquist." 



THE LOG. 

January lotk. 

I ik. 2)Om.p.m. — As I finished the ghost story, there was a simul- 
taneous burst of merriment — in which even old Jack Backstay joined 
— at the absurd and ludicrous appearance of surprised mortification 
and disappointment spreading over the doctor's countenance. But a 
moment before he had been all smiles and grins ; was chuckling to, 
and evidently very well satisfied with, himself. But to look on this 
picture and then on that! it was too absurd, and we literally roared with 
laughter. It was the break applied to an over-sanguine temperament. 
Old Jack took the matter much more philosophically, and his bristly 
moustache was merely elevated a little in pity and contempt for those 
who did not believe in Davy Jones and the Flying Dutchman 

After all, the doctor had some very strong arguments on his 
side. No sooner had he somewhat recovered from the mortification 
into which my unexpected denouement had thrown him, than he 
said — 

" It is all very well to laugh, my boys, but if you do not believe 
in ghosts or spirits, pray tell me what becomes of the souls of the 
dead, and where they go to during the interval between death and 
the resurrection ? None of you are Roman Catholics, and so, of 
course, you don't believe in purgatory ; and I should very much like 
to know how you account for the spirits of the departed. They 
cannot go to heaven, because the last day — the day of resurrection — 



io8 



The Log of the Fortuna. 




THE CREEK I DISCOVERED. 



is to place them either there or somewhere else. They cannot go to 
that particular somewhere else, for the same reason. Again, it seems 
to be absolutely necessary that the resurrection of the body should 
take place before the soul can be condemned or rewarded. There- 
fore, if the spirits of the dead are neither in heaven, hell, nor pur- 
gatory, I say that they are still on earth, and defy any one to 
disprove either that opinion or the theory of a spirit-world among us, 
especially as demons, devils, and spirits are so frequently mentioned 
in the Bible." 

But there is no occasion to turn this book into a theological 
metaphysical, and psychological treatise ; although upon the night in 
question our conversation lasted long and animated, and partook of 



The Log. 109 

that rather dry and abstruse triune nature. I think the doctor came 
off victorious, after all, for none of us could answer his triumphant 
query as to the whereabouts and disposal, or qualities, of departed 
spirits during the interregnum. 

Of course that night the doctor did his best to convince his 
berth-mate (old Jack Backstay) as to the veritable existence of ghosts. 
I have not the slightest doubt that he had a capital subject to work 
upon, but whether he succeeded or failed in impressing his own 
peculiar opinions, I cannot exactly state, although, from my berth 
next to theirs, I heard Mr. Backstay's frequent " Ay, ay ! " (the only 
variety of response he ever used being in the difference of tone) to a 
very late hour, and believe that it continued mechanically, long after 
he had himself gone to sleep, and the monotonous sound had sent me 
to the arms of Morpheus likewise. 

yamtary nth. 

This day being warm and fine, we took a long excursion 
ashore, and along the wild sea-beach. Moreover, we went in a 
more comfortable style than previously, for, having found out that 
the water was deep all around the wretched mud-bank upon which 
we were fixed, we had hired a comfortable Chinese boat, with a 
spacious thatched covering amidships. Whilst out to-day, I came 
most unexpectedly upon a very romantic little creek, literally thronged 
with vast flocks of the large rice-bird and every description of wild 
water-fowl. 

This was an opportunity not to be neglected. Rejoining my 
friends, I took them to the spot, and we thereupon incontinently did 
decide to have an afternoon's sport — to us, but death to them — 
among the feathery host rushing wildly screaming in alarm above 



no The Log of the Fortuna. 

our heads. Returning, therefore, to the Forhma for our guns, 
we divided our party of five between her gig and the Chinese 
sanpan, and then proceeded to the scene of action. What sport we 
did have ! From fifty to sixty brace of rice-birds, and over twenty 
brace of various kinds of duck, were bagged that afternoon ; and the 
victims, be it remembered, were not fatted denizens of an EngHsh 
preserve — too lazy to fly away, and too tame to keep clear of the 
muzzles of the guns — but, upon the contrary, were really wild, wary, 
and suspicious game, though incredibly plentiful. The guns kept 
banging away, and the birds coming splash all around us, until we 
became quite tired of it. The rice-bird — of a pure white colour, and 
closely similar in appearance to a young crane — is a most delicious 
food, and all hands on board the Fortuna feasted upon it till the end 
of that cruise. 

It was quite dark by the time we gave up shooting and thought 
of returning on board, and then it was easier said than done, for a 
singular circumstance had taken place. The day had been very hot 
— unusually so for the time of year — and when we ordered the 
boatmen to pull for the schooner, upon looking round for her, and 
looking in vain, we, for the first time, became aware that the heat had 
produced a most extraordinary crepusculous state of the atmosphere 
— air, land, and water being utterly confused, blended together, and 
subjected to a peculiar sort of metamorphosis similar to that produced 
during the mirage. Beneath the mat awning of the boat in which I 
was the heat was so close and stifling that we took it by turns in lying 
down outside upon the top of the cover, which was not strong enough 
to bear more than one at a time. Here, one after the other, I, Esmond^ 
and Mr. Lawrence smoked our cheroots and took it easy whilst the 
boat's crew pulled about in search of the schooner, which they did 




SHOOTING RICE-BIRDS. 



The Log. 113 

not succeed in finding for at least a couple of hours. It was awfully- 
jolly, that return to the stanch old Fortuna. It was just the sort of 
warm, sultry, dreamy tropical night to give oneself up to utter laziness, 
and certainly, upon the top of the boat's little house, we had our otium, 
but sine the dignitate. 

Our worthy long-tailed tars, becoming sensibly affected by the 
weird, ghastly, supernatural sort of aspect of the evening, began 
to feel superstitious — a failing to which they, in common with their 
compatriots generally, were by no means strangers. Therefore, in 
order, I suppose, to encourage themselves, and drive the gloomy 
fancies from their Celestial minds, they started one of those 
wailing, melancholy, long-drawn dirges, in which the heart of the 
Chinese man doth largely rejoice. This style of singing is entirely 
imaginative, extemporary, and ct Vimproviste, and the quavering, 
long-drawn, sad-toned falsetto notes in which it is sung are very 
peculiar, and have a delightfully lulling, soothing effect, when their 
sorrowful melody sounds echoing over the still dark waters of the 
silent night. The dirge consisted of one verse, continuously 
repeated, in somewhat like the following form : — 

" Oh, spirits, spirits, spirits of the vasty deep, 
Watch o'er us, guard us, from all danger keep ! 
From demons, devils, vi^icked beings of the air, 
Save us, ye gods ! and hear our evening prayer !" 

We should have been still longer in getting on board, had we not 
suddenly heard the well-known tones of Jack Backstay's voice come 
rolling, echoing, and reverberating over the misty waters to us, 
followed by the scarcely louder roar of one of the Fortuna s swivel 
guns. Mr. Backstay and the doctor, in the ship's boat, having 
arrived first, considerately began to signal for us. 

By the time that the dinner things were cleared away, it was very 

I 



114 ^-^-^ ^<^^ ^^ ^^^ FORTUNA. 

near eight bells, so we got into our places, leaving the chair to our 
friend the doctor, whose turn at story-telling came this night. 

^h. p.m. — As the echo of the bell died lazily away in the murky 
atmosphere above, the doctor just cleared his throat with a few sips 
of Esmond's " particular ; " then, whilst we lighted our manillas, 
stirred up the fire, and stretched ourselves out at ease, he began to 
spin his yarn. 



Cfte lanrtor'sJ ©ant. 
"STUCK U P." 

AN ADVENTURE WITH AUSTRALIAN BUSHRANGERS. 

Certainly the title of this story is not one of the most refined that 
could be found. It is very decidedly more forcible than elegant ; 
but then, it is the exact name for that which took place, and which 
I am going to narrate. It is not English, it is a colonialism; and 
out in Australia, where people get coarse by " roughing it," such 
harsh and pithy expressions become common. 

I had been several years in New South Wales — mind, I paid 
my own passage out there — but had not yet made my fortune ; in 
fact, had become reduced to my last piece of gold, and was just 
beginning to regret having left ould Ireland and emigrated, when I 
found myself, one beautiful summer's evening, at the sheep station at 
Gundigi, on the high road to Naomi Creek from West Maitland. I 
had left the latter place some days previous, to join in the rush for 
the creek of the plentiful name, where gold had just been discovered 
— it was rumoured, in large quantity. 

Gundigi was a wretched little place on Cooper's Creek, but the 
sight of it was welcome — very ; for I was hungry, and, besides, tired 
of solitary companionship with myself. The station contained three 
buildings — the dwelling of the sheep proprietor and his servants, 
which consisted of a large, rambling, irregular-shaped log and bark 

I 2 



1 1 6 The Log of the Fortuna. 

hut ; besides a blacksmith's shanty, and a rough bark cottage — the 
Gundigi public-house and hotel. 

Of one thing — a kind and hearty welcome — the weary wanderer 
in the btcsh is sure, whenever he is lucky enough to tumble across the 
shanty of a squatter in the wilderness. Consequently, I was received 
with hospitality ; and so, instead of continuing on my way to Naomi 
Creek, determined to pass the night at the station. I had become 
tired of passing the nights either alone in my blanket upon the bare 
ground, or, what was almost, if not quite as bad, at some wretched 
hovel of the aborigines. Only the night before it had been my lot to 
pass it with a couple of black fellows, whose utterly miserable con- 
dition I shall never forget. Poor wretches ! So far as my experience 
goes, they are certainly the most degraded type of humanity. 

Just as the fiery red sun was setting in the blood-red crimson of 
an Australian sunset, all hands assembled in the big room of the 
Gundigi hotel. The company consisted of fourteen white men in 
all, besides a nigger cook of African race, and an Australian black 
fellow, who acted as attendant. Besides the proprietor of the sheep 
station — a Mr. Williams — there was " Myall Tom," the landlord ; 
Remi Shmidt, a German-Jew pedlar, well known in the bush; two 
" new chums," just arrived from England, with plenty of money, and 
out prospecting for a likely spot to settle upon ; and myself; the 
rest of the party being the drovers, shepherds, &c., of Mr. Williams. 

This gentleman was a savant of reputation, and whilst out in 
the bush some months previous, following his scientific pursuits in 
company with Dr. Beattie, of Melbourne, went through a most 
extraordinary adventure. I had heard something of this, and now, 
whilst waiting for dinner, having got into conversation with Mr. 
Williams, I received from him the following account of it. 



''Stuck Up!' 119 

It appears that they had gone far into the bush, and away from 
the settlements, upon a scientific and surveying expedition, quite 
alone. All went well with them until one evening, when they had 
penetrated to a very singularly formed gully, where they made up 
their minds to pass the night. Thoughtless of danger, they had just 
made arrangements for cooking their supper, when, from the top of 
the cliffs above and around them, whiz came a shower of spears, and 
at the same instant, the loud, hideous yells which burst upon their 
startled ears, told them that a tribe of aborigines were besetting 
them. By a providential movement they had unwittingly saved their 
lives, for the black fellow never misses his aim with the spear — in the 
use of which he is wonderfully expert — but it seems that at the very 
moment when the deadly weapons were launched against them by the 
unseen foe, they had both thrown themselves flat upon the ground, 
tired out with the day's toil, and to rest themselves while waiting for 
the kettle to boil. Very fortunately, again, a lucky inspiration pre- 
served their lives. Mr. Williams had once seen the intense delight 
with which a party of natives had beheld the saltatory exercise of 
some Europeans, and, springing to his feet, he instantly began to 
dance and hop away, not as if his life depended upon it, but because 
it did; at the same time calling to his companion — 

"Doctor! doctor! for God's sake dance! It may save our 
lives ! " 

" Dance ! but I can't ! I don't know how," cried the unfortu- 
nate doctor, wringing his hands, and gazing piteously around. 

But at that moment whiz came another spear, only missing his 
vitals by the spring he had made after his companion. 

" Try," said the latter, and further pressing was not required, for 
the doctor saw that no spears came at his dancing friend, and forth- 



I20 The Log of the Fortuna. 

with he began to hop and jump about, in a way that caused the 
savages above to scream and whoop with deHght. 

For more than one whole hour those two unfortunate men went 
on with their exertions. It was, indeed, a dance for Hfe ! From the 
gully there was no escape but by the way they had entered it, and 
their enemies were close above. 

It was a frightful sight ! Those black, hideous faces, with their 
savage eyes glaring down upon them from the tangled vegetation 
above — the glaring eyes, the hideous forms, and the brandished 
weapons made more formidable by the redly gleaming flashes of the 
firelight. The horrid yell of the Australian echoed long and loudly 
through the caves and winding passage of the gully ; but though the 
alarming sound made their hearts quiver, it proved, in the end, 
another providential circumstance, by which their lives were saved ; 
for it is uncertain whether the savages would have killed or taken 
them prisoners when they had become too exhausted to continue that 
grotesquely horrible performance. Those vociferous yells, however, 
chanced to reach the ears of a gold escort passing on their way from 
the newly-discovered gold-fields at Lonely Gully. Attracted by the 
loud hubbub, they turned aside and hastened to the spot. Absorbed 
with their victims, the natives were unaware of the escort's approach, 
and the first thing that they knew of it was the last with many of 
their number. Crack ! crack ! went the rifles and the rapid detona- 
tions of the Colt's revolvers. A dozen black fellows were killed, the 
rest fled howling into the dense scrub, where the mounted constabulary 
could not follow, and the two savants were carried off in safety, more 
dead than alive. • 

A repast of tea, damper, roast beef and corned beef, Hollands 
gin and Australian peaches, had just been spread upon the table, and 




A DANCE FOR LIKK. 



'^ Stuck Up!' 123 

to my keen appetite seemed of almost Sybarite luxury, when, lo ! the 
first dig of each knife was abruptly arrested, and each uplifted morsel 
fell untasted to the plate. 

The door had been suddenly thrown open, and two — only two — 
wild-looking, bearded fellows sprang into the room. 

It was not so much the fact of their unceremonious entrance that 
troubled us (if the intruders had liked springing, we would have let 
them spring with all our hearts), but, confound them ! each held a 
brace of deadly large-sized Colt's revolvers at our heads ! 

The moment they appeared, " Myall Tom " made a move as 
though he would put his hand beneath the counter of the bar, only a 
foot or two behind his chair, as he sat at the head of the table. I 
knew that a loaded revolver was lying there on a little shelf, for I 
had been admiring its workmanship only a short time before dinner. 
The tallest of our two unwelcome guests, however, observed the 
action at once, and his brilliant eyes glittered with a fierce, lurid light, 
as one of his raised six-shooters gave " Myall Tom " the opportunity 
of gazing down its bore, whilst he shouted, in stern, unfaltering 
accents — 

" Sit still, there, for your life ! Move but another inch, and you 
are a dead man ! " 

Mine host obeyed, unwillingly, it must be confessed ; for his 
shaggy black brows became closely knitted together, whilst his bull- 
dog-like countenance quickly assumed a dusky, angry tinge of red. 
He was a bit of a fighting-man, and not much accustomed to coercion. 

As for the rest of our party, all were too surprised for any 
attempt at either individual or concerted action. Every man sat 
waiting for some one else to do something ; while all attentively eyed 
the steadily-levelled revolvers. Yes, sure enough the hollow tubes 



124 The Log of the Fortuna. 

were covering us ; we knew that firm fingers were on the triggers, 
too, and that any attempt at resistance would be certain death to 
those who first resorted to it ; and it was impossible to arrange for a 
general rush upon our two daring assailants. 

Immediately after quieting " Myall Tom," the tallest of the two 
bushrangers — a man of decidedly elegant and commanding presence 
— advanced into the centre of the room, closely followed by his 
companion, and said — 

" Now then, gentlemen, I do not wish to put you to any incon- 
venience, but I have a particular desire for any spare cash or jewellery 
that you may have about you. I am ' Captain Melville ; ' my friend 
is known as ' Dutch Sam.' " 

A murmur ran round our subdued circle. The two most famous 
bushrangers in the whole colony had just been named. 

Captain Melville looked the hero of romance, in the pirate- 
captain or brigand-chief line, to an iota. He was a tall, handsome 
man, in the prime of life, with dark flashing eyes, long black curls, 
regular features, and Apollo-like build. His companion was of 
shorter, but more massive and Herculean frame; and, as far as 
appearances went, might well have been taken for an even more 
formidable antagonist than his chief, in spite of the many authentic 
accounts of the latter's strength and courage. 

" Attention, if you please, gentlemen ! " continued the noble 
bushranger. " Step from the table one by one and range yourselves 
against the wall there. You, Mister ' Myall Tom ' (for I know you), 
get up first, and come over here, nearest to me. Then the rest form 
up, side by side, between you and the other corner of the room. 
Now, then — come along, sir!" 

Up went our landlord, sullenly enough, and casting lingering 



^' Stuck Up-' 127 

glances to where he left his pet revolver. This again attracted 
Captain Melville's attention, who sent his companion to look behind 
the bar; when the weapon was discovered and duly stuck into the 
discoverer's belt, by the side of a formidable " Arkansas toothpick " — 
Anglice, a twelve-inch bowie-knife. 

There, one by one, shamefully enough, but quite helplessly, we all 
took up our respective stations along the wall ; till at length there we 
stood, the whole fourteen of us, " stuck up " by only two men ! 

As for myself, I can freely say that it went strong against the 
grain being thus brought to bay, bullied, and robbed ; but then I had 
nothing to lose — only one half-sovereign in the world ; so, each time I 
felt it, I managed to suppress the inclination to pull forth my solitary 
single-barrelled pistol ; then reason would flatter my wounded pride by 
whispering what folly it would be to sacrifice my precious life for ten 
shillings ! Glancing at my brothers in misfortune, I saw that night, by 
the glaring, flickering light of the half dozen fat lamps, many a bronzed 
and manly cheek turn pale and red by turns with rage and shame. 
However, at the period of this adventure, bushrangers had become so 
much an institution in Australia that a sort of tacit understanding 
seemed to exist between them and their victims, as to the quiet sub- 
mission of the latter when cleverly or daringly taken by surprise, in 
which case their lives were always spared, whereas resistance would 
surely forfeit them. Of course, any open attack by bushrangers was 
met bravely enough by the colonists ; but, as the former fought 
with halters round their necks, with them generally rested the 
advantage. 

" Gentlemen," said our polite plunderer, when we had all toed a 
line, " here is my handkerchief" 

The cambric was produced and held before our eyes for a moment. 



128 The Log of the Fortuna. 

__ __^ 

Then the captain pushed back all the plates and dishes from one end 
■of the table, and carefully spread it out on the bare board. 

" Attention, gentlemen ! " said he. " I want you all to deposit 
whatever you have, in the way of valuables, in this, my handkerchief 
Halt, there !" he suddenly roared, bringing his revolver upon a level 
with his eyes, as half-a-dozen of our number made a move towards 
him — "halt, there! One at a time, if you please, commencing from 
that end ; then, as you deposit, pass over to the other side of the room, 
and form line again along that wall. Wait a moment, if you will be 
so kind — wait a moment ; don't be too impatient ! I just wish to 
inform you all, before you begin to unburthen yourselves, that after 
having passed my handkerchief you will then be searched, and any 
man found with hidden property about him will be obliged to step 
outside and take a walk with me, of fifty yards or so, into the scrub!' 

A silent pause succeeded this ominous intimation. Then we 
lieard the groaning of Remi the Jew — his cunning, no doubt, had 
taken alarm, so that he feared trusting to his powers of concealment. 
After having given us time to ponder his words, Captain Melville 
continued — 

" Now then, gentlemen, step up, if you please ! " 

What could we do ? With the exception of myself and the two 
•" new chums," our party was unarmed. As for the latter, their heavy 
armament of rifles. Tranter and Adams' revolvers, &c., had, only a 
short time previous, proved an inexhaustible source of merriment to the 
rest of us. It need hardly be said that these latest importations from 
Cockaigne, in the present emergency, failed most ignominiously both 
in using and preserving their formidable arsenals. Their glittering 
weapons had attracted the attention of our captors, and, before the 
■captain's last order could be obeyed, he suddenly cried — 



'^ Stuck Up!' 129 

" Halt ! Wait a moment, gentlemen," 

Then, turning to his comrade, he continued — 

" Here, Sam ; just relieve those two ' new chums ' of their arma* 
ment ; it might hurt them, they're shaking so." 

Standing in a jaunty, elegant attitude at the end of our row, his 
lip curling with contempt at the timidity of the greenhorns his pene- 
tration had so quickly detected, the captain took care of us whilst his 
partner collected the arms, including two beautiful Westley- Richards' 
rifles standing in a corner. 

Taking up one of these weapons, the audacious fellow admiringly 
scrutinised it, then took off his slouched hat, made a polite bow to one 
of the late owners, and said — 

" Thank you. Mister ' new chum ;' thank you ! This is just the 
very sort of thing we require. We have been wanting new rifles for 
some time, I and Sam, and these are really beauties." 

Then he went to business again, and said — 

" Now then, gentlemen, you can step up and take a look at my 
cambric," 

One by one we went through the ordeal, until it came to my turn. 

I think that the noble captain must have had his handkerchief 
made for the express purpose to which he now applied it ; for so capa- 
cious and ample were its dimensions, that it far more nearly approached 
a young table-cloth than the civilised article. 

As yet, the daring bushrangers had not reaped a goodly harvest 
for their plucky venture, I do not think there were more than ten or 
twelve pounds deposited, and this was mostly from Mr, Williams, who, 
however, had also left a fair-looking diamond ring on the heap. 

As I pulled forth my last coin, and threw it down, grimly 
observing, " There goes the last shot in the locker ! " Captain 

J 



130 The Log of the Foktcxa. 



Melville seemed to notice the salt-water twaiv^- ot* the expression, 
and at the same time his g-lance rested upon the anchor oraven 
into the back of my ri^lu hand, which I had allowed a sailor to 
execute during the passage out. 

"Oh, you're a * shell-back,' are you? Pick it up ao-ain -pick it 
up ag-ain ! I've been a sailor myself," said he. 

I did not take tlie trouble to rectify his mistake, neither was I too 
proud to take back the coin ; in tact, I don't mind admitting that the 
idea of choosing a sovereign instead of the half dh{ occur to me ; but 
somehow I did not act upon the inspiration ; \-et I cannot help thinking 
that, logically. I had as much right to the so\-ereign as the bushrangers 
had ; and that, morall)-. it would have been tar better bestowed upon 
me than upon them. However, at the moment, 1 was not sufficiently 
prompt in acting upon such like reflections : pointed revolvers — when 
they're loaded, and held b\- desperadoes — having somehow a tendency: 
to correct smart actions. 

I passed on, and was followed by the two " new chiuns." From 
them the robbers made a goodly haul. The captain's metallic voice, in 
smooth, gliciing, and impressive accents, reminded them of his intima- 
tion regarding a promenade into the sc7'h5. Then, without further 
hesitation, the poor Cockne}'s imbuttoned some o\ their strange gar- 
ments (wonderful habiliments these — a r Australasian, according to 
the London tailors who made them to sell), and forth froni hidden 
parts came most elaborate leathern money-belts. How the marauders 
did roar with laughter when they saw them ! found, too, how well and 
heavily the)- were lined. 

'* Oh ! Bill," groaned one to the otlier. as they ranged their 
lightened figures by my side, " whyhexer did \ou indoose me to 
leave " 



** Stuck Wry 131 

'* Who did ? Who did ?" interrupted Bill, in hissing and 
subdued tones. " Who are yer a-talkin' to — eh ?" 

Bill was evidently the superior spirit of the two. 

" Oh, dear ! oh, dear !" the other went on. " There goes my 
father's watch ; and the locket — my Marier's locket — the locket of 
her hown portrait, which she tied round my neck with a blue 
ribbon ' 

" Shut up!" snarled the superior Bill. " Do yer suppose nobody 
else haint lost nothink .'* What about the quids I sold the orse and 
shay for — eh ? There they are ! What about the hard shiners 
paid down on the nail for goodwill, lease, fixturs, an' el ceteras, for the 
' Goose an' Quail ' — eh ? Pho-00 ! Dry up, do !" 

And the indignant William relapsed into gloomy silence, having 
effectually repressed his chum. 

Poor snobs ! they were little fitted, either by nature or training, 
for a wild, rough, and roving life. Directly after this adventure they 
made back-tracks for somewhere near Whitechapel. 

When it came to the turn of Remi Shmidt, the Jew, Captain 
Melville, detecting his palpable descent, said — 

" Well, Schnaderach, have you any money ?" 

" Not-a-penny, no!" cried he of Hebrew race, in a breath. 

" That will do, then. Pass on. We'll have to search you 
directly — right to the bare buff, remember — and perhaps you may 
not have to take a walk into the bush with me, " sententiously observed 
the captain. 

" Ach ! mein gracious! Shtay! shtay ! I have a litteel 
monish In mein pocket, what before I did forgot." 

And he fumbled about with his dirty, dingy old clothing. 

" Here, Sam; search him," cried the chief, knowing, perhaps, that 

J 2 



I'?. 2 The Log of the F< 



ORTUNA. 



even the fear of death could not make such an Israelite part with his 
valuables willingly. 

Sam took him into a corner, and, whilst the rest of our party 
passed before his leader, thoroughly overhauled him. 

These were the sounds that issued from that corner : — 

" Now, then, my beauty, off with yer coat ! It's very rarely you 
hev sich a walet as me — sich a gentleman walet, I mean — to attend 
upon yer." 

Then we could hear the ripping and tearing, as Sam took his 
ugly knife and cut out the lining and pockets of the coat. 

" Now for your vest. Off with it, yer cent, per cent, darling !" 

" Ach ! mein gracious ! Ach ! ach !" groaned the Jew, as a fat 
pocket-book was taken from an inside pocket of his waistcoat, and 
the disrobing revealed a digger's belt, which soon followed, and was 
heavy with gold. 

" Boots and stockings !" roared the merciless inquisitor. 

Off they came, and out of the venerable hose fell many bank- 
notes, carefully stitched in linen and placed there for security. 

"Oh, holy Moshes ! Ach! mein gracious! mein gracious!" 
whined Remi. " All mein monish ! All mein properties — all ! 
Vat skall I do ? Oh, Fadder Abrahams I" 

So he went on, till, suddenly becoming, I suppose, infuriated at 
his loss, he sprang upon " Dutch Sam," just as the latter was carrying 
off the treasures to deposit them in the handkerchief. But the 
brawny bushranger felled him flat to the floor with one blow of his 
flst, and the next instant had his revolvers ready in hand in case any 
of us felt inclined to imitate the Jew. 

Picking out the bank-notes, as the miserable Israelite crawled 
writhing, bleeding, and whining towards him, Captain Melville (who 



^^ Stuck Up!' 133 

was known to bear some particular animosity against that evilly- 
reputed race) slowly held them, one by one, in the flame of a lamp, 
and, as they were consumed, kept up a running commentary of this 
nature : — 

"There goes a fifty, dog of a Jew! This is a twenty, now! 
Here comes another! What! another fifty ? Dear, dear! Schnaderach, 
how you must have been cheating the poor squatters and diggers," &c. 

" Ach, ach ! Is id you vat say dat ? Ach ! you pese von pad 
mans ! Oh, holy Moshes, my monish ! You vonts do make von 
peggars ov me, und I pese sorry I ever see yous. Ach, mein 
gracious ! Der tyvel ! Der shudge skall hang you und der noder 
mans goots mit der ropes — he skall ! Oh ! oh I mein nodes, mein 
monish ! I vill in der babers pud der nodise vat vill cotch you und 
der oder mans. Oh, I vill vix you mans goot ! Hoo-00-00 !" and 
the Jew fairly broke down, groaning and blubbering, as the last of 
his notes perished in the flame. 

Then the captain addressed " Myall Tom." . ' 

^' Now, Mister Landlord, nobblers all round, if you please ; for 
I cannot leave you, gentlemen, until we have had a glass together to 
the health and success of our noble selves." 

The fellow's cool audacity and touching bo7ihoinie affected the 
rough drovers and shepherds, who gave an applauding shout. Remi 
went on groaning and muttering strange jargon ; I remained in- 
different ; Mr. Williams and the two " new chums " were alike in 
gloom, silence, and reserve. 

Speaking to the three latter, the bushranger said — 

" Gentlemen, do not make yourselves miserable about trifles. 
You have only lost a few hundreds between you, and have all this 
continent in which to make more. You have a variety of paths to 



134 The Log of the Fortuna. 



choose for making your fortune, whilst I am a proscribed and out- 
lawed man, and have no other way of getting a living. It is my 
turn to-day, it may be yours to-morrow." 

What a philosophical rascal it was ! 

Turning to the wretched Hebrew, with one jerk of his muscular 
arm he stood him on his feet ; then said — 

" Come, Mister Schnaderach, you are well known about these 
parts, and the landlord will trust you. Order drinks all round ! " 

" S'help me Moses, nevare-re," began Remi ; but his mind soon 
changed, for the captain had slily drawn his " bowie," and was 
pricking up his victim with it. 

" Ach ! Shtop ! shtop ! dat isht mein vlesh vat der nive go 
indo! I vill order — I vill 'shout' vor der mans!'* 

" You hear that, landlord ! " cried the captain. " Bring the grog 
along ! " 

"Well, cap., what'ull yer hev ? What's yer liquor?" asked 
" Myall Tom. " 

''Spiders (a favoured colonial decoction) all round, my hearty." 

Spiders were served, and were duly appreciated by all save the 
"shouter" and the two "new chums:" the Jew could not be pre- 
vailed upon to imbibe ; the two latter made wry faces — when the 
captain was not looking — ^as though the drink were vinegar. 

" Now then, Sam," said the bushranp-er to his comrade, when 

7 1 ,3 J 

the glasses had passed, " let us be off! " 

Then the two backed to the door, Captain Melville favouring us 
with this parting advice — 

" Good-bye, gentlemen ! Do not attempt to pursue us ; and do 
not send information of our visit to any neighbouring station for at 
least a clear twelve hours ; should you be imprudent enough to do so, 



^' Stuck Up!' 137 

it will be worse for some of us," and he tapped the butt of his newly 
acquired rifle significantly. " Au revoir ! " 

The threat to search us after depositing in his handkerchief was 
only a r^i-se to save time and avoid the danger of searching so many 
men ; at least, we thought so afterwards. 

The noise of their horses' hoofs was the last I heard of the two 
famous bushrangers. This story will be remembered by many " old 
chums." 

After this adventure, instead of going on to Namoi Creek, I 
went with the unfortunate Burke's party — who passed Gundigi on the 
following day, and nearly all of whom perished in the desert interior — - 
as far as the head of Cooper's Creek, where gold was fancied to exist. 
As far as there I travelled luxuriously on the back of one of the 
expedition's camels ; then, together with three other gold-seekers, we 
branched off, and were pretty successful in finding the precious metal 
at a certain spot (shown by the accompanying sketch) on Cooper's 
Creek. 



THE LOG. 

1 1 p.m. 

Eleven o'clock was struck by the watchful quartermaster on deck, 
just as the doctor was upon the point of concluding his story, for he 
had spun it out with many little explanations and details not necessary 
for insertion here ; so we set to work upon some of the Angel's 
exquisite!y-prepared wild-fowl and pastr)-, and then to bed, perhajDS 
to dream of bushrangers, black fellows with spears and boomerangs, 
or weighty nuggets of gold, something more considerable than the 
little beauty, obtained at Cooper's Creek, hanging to the doctor's 
watch-chain, 

yanuary 1 2th. 

During the whole of this day our long-tailed mariners were 
sorely troubled in spirit, and sourly affected in visage, for Esmond 
had bitterly offended them by setting them to work. Hitherto, since 
our sticking on the mud-bank — an operation which I feel morally 
convinced in my own mind had been purposely executed by our 
cunning lozuder — they had had no other work to do than keeping 
the schooner clean, and had displayed a splendid aptitude for 
gambling, opium-smoking, and sleeping ; not to mention the fact that 
sundry suspicious-looking sainshoo jars had been smuggled on board 
by some of the wild-looking fishermen prowling about, and samshoo 
is an ardent spirit, cunningly extracted from rice, that would kill any 
ordinary European at fifty paces. 

The cause of this day's work consisted in the rising of the tide, 



The Log. 139 

consequent upon a prevalence of easterly winds, of which the skipper 
took advantage by sending out an anchor astern and trying to heave 
his vessel off the mud. The attempt proved fruitless ; for our Chinese 
tars seemed religiously determined not to heave too hard, and I could 
not help fancying that there was a very suspicious sort of twinkling 
in their little oblique black eyes as they joyfully resigned themselves 
once more to cards, samsJioo, opium, and sleep. 

Whilst Esmond was busy on board, the rest of our party took a 
ramble ashore in a new direction, straight inland. 

After several times losing ourselves in the thickets and jungles 
covering the land about a mile distant from the rugged and marshy 
coast-line, we at length came upon a charming little bush path, of 
which I made the sketch shown on the next page, and which we 
had the curiosity to follow up in order to see where it led. 

However, before proceeding upon our voyage of discovery, we 
halted at the above spot for tiffin ; and only after fortifying ourselves 
with a tin or two of sardines, some crisp American crackers, and a 
few bottles of Bass's best, went forward. 

We found that the path wound for nearly two miles through a 
most luxuriant growth of semi-tropical vegetation, which, together 
with the beautiful wild flowers scattered everywhere around in 
bounteous profusion, and the rich white clusters of the powerfully- 
scented and aromatic tree- Magnolia, were very pleasing objects to 
our senses. 

At last we emerged from the fringing belt of woodland, and 
came upon the open, profusely cultivated country. Far as the eye 
could reach extended field after field of rice, paddy, esculent roots, 
and vegetables. Only a few hundred yards before us a singular 
looking object fixed our attention. It seemed to be a thing about 



140 



The Log oe the Fortuna. 



ten feet long and three or four high ; living it certainly was, for 
we could see that it moved, though very slowly. But then the 
nature of its movements utterly puzzled us ; every now and then a 
portion of its length, at different places, would be elevated above the 

rest, and this was somewhat like 
the undulating motion of a huge 
serpent ; but then, instead of ad- 
vancing lengthways or end on, 
it was evidently moving bodily 
forward, though very slowly, 
breadth on, its numerous legs 
giving it a most extraordinary 
appearance, as it moved in a 
confused and disconnected man- 
ner; whilst for head, or upper 
part, it presented nothing but an 
aspect of huge circular patches 
joined together anyhow. We 
advanced upon this strange 
monster, and it gradually began 
to change its formidable-looking 
aspect into the harmless appearance shown on the opposite page. 

They were rice-planters, wearing great round bamboo hats to 
protect them from the sun or rain, bare-legged and bare-armed, and 
up to their knees in the water, covering the exuberantly irrigated fields. 
We chin-chined with these people, and became great friends, I 
like those simple, dignified, polite, and well-behaved Chinese 
peasantry, always providing you can get them alone and away from 
any of the usurping Tartar dynasty's myrmidons of either the civil 




THE BUSH PATH. 



The Log. 



lAI 




THE RICE-PLANTERS. 



(mandarin) or military service ; for these latter compel them to abuse 
and maltreat the foreigner, whose free and enlightened intercourse 
may very possibly interfere with their despotic and grossly tyrannical 
rule. We accompanied the rice-planters to their little village near 
by, and here were entertained to tea and cakes ; and I must say that 
during all my travels in various climes I never came across a more 
genuine, courteous, hospitable people. Only one event occurred 
to make us feel the slightest superiority to these very interesting 
people, and that was when, in the height of their friendship, and in 
response to our curiosity, they deigned to initiate us into the 
mysteries of " small foot," and caused one of their women to uncover 
those hideous pedal deformities. It was too dark to find our way 
homeward when we bade adieu to our friends, so two of them very 
kindly accompanied us as far as the beach with large paper lanterns. 
We arrived on board only just in tim^e to escape a good ducking ; 



142 The Log of the Fort una. 

for, by the time that dinner was served, the rain was coming down in 
torrents, whilst the wind was whistling and howling through the 
schooner's cordage in a way that made us keep all snug below. 

^ p.m. 

" Rouse and bitt ! rouse and bitt, my hearties ! " roared old 
Jack Backstay, the moment that the sound was out of the belL 
" Turn to here ! Get into your places, light up your 'bacca, and keep 
a ' weather eye lifting,' for it's ray turn to-night, and I'm just about to 
veer away my yarn." 

We took our places, helped ourselves to toddy and cigars, or a 
cup of coffee if we preferred it, and then our entertainer for the night 
began his yarn, the elements seeming anxious to form an appropriate 
accompaniment to his opening scene — a shipwreck — for the bleak 
winds whistled, and roared, and howled outside, whilst the waves, 
though scarcely three feet deep, splashed and dashed in mimic fury 
against the immovable sides of the mud-embedded bark. 





THE '"SMALL FOOT," NAKED AND IN ITS SHOE. 



Cfte garn of tl)e ilate out of a BertI)* 
CAUGHT BY CHINESE REBELS. 

A STRANGE STORY OF CHINA. 

The third of December is a date indelibly impressed upon my 
memory, for, sixteen years ago, I was shipwrecked off the north-east 
coast of China upon that day of the month ; moreover, I and Richard 
Savage, the second mate, were the only white men saved. 

The fatal loss of the good ship Shadow and nearly her whole 
crew never became duly chronicled, from the simple circumstance that 
she was an illegal trader; being, in fact, one of those well-armed/ 
clipper-built, opium smugglers, not exactly unknown in Chinese waters 
some years ago, before England had compelled the Imperial 
Celestial Government to legalise the wholesale importation of the 
pernicious drug grown in British India. 

The Shadow was a smart little full-rigged ship of 400 tons 
burden — in fact, one of the smartest in the service. She carried a 
strong European crew, with a sufficient complement of Chinese 
sailors to man one boat (the natives being good oarsmen, and better 
able than white men to endure the fatigue of a long pull in the hot 
summer), besides other Celestials as servants, for which employment 
they are really admirably suitable. The rakish little Shadow was 
also fully equipped with an armament of twelve eighteen-pounders 
—six on either broadside — and a " long twenty-four," as pivot-gun 



144 The Log of the Fortuna. 

amidships. Many a time the heavy Ti-Mungs and Chinese war- 
junks found that we were quite able to fight our way, even when a 
dozen of them tried to effect our capture. However, on the present 
occasion, I am. not going to describe either the fighting exploits or 
substantial profits of the celebrated Shadow, but at once get to the 
subject of my story, and explain how Dick Savage, my servant, and 
rnyself fell into the hands of a large force of Chinese rebels. 

About the end of November our vessel left Hong-Kong, half 
loaded with a valuable cargo of opium ; and the orders were to dispose 
of it at several small towns along the coast, between the former port 
and that of Swatow, some two hundred miles to the north and east. 

We had been very successful at the first place to which we had 
been directed, and had landed more than a hundred chests of opium, 
for which our captain had received the hard cash, with a profit more 
than trebling the original outlay. Then, getting under weigh, with 
a strong, fair wind, we sailed along the coast in search of the next port. 
The breeze continually increased, and, towards nine o'clock in the 
evening, we were dashing along at a distance of about three miles 
from the land, when all hands were startled by the loud and alarming 
cry from the look-out men stationed on the forecastle. " Breakers 
ahead ! Hard a-port ! " they shouted with terrible earnestness. 

Too late ! They had seen the high ripple caused by the breaking 
of the rising sea over a sunken rock, upon which the next moment, 
before a rope could be touched, or a spoke of the wheel shifted, our 
doomed vessel crashed with terrific force. Being built for speed, to 
attain which it is necessary to sacrifice strength, the Shadow was stove 
bodily in at once. We had been dashing along before the gale at 
fully eleven knots an hour, when we went upon some unknown rock 
off Breaker Point — a projecting headland some sixty miles south of 



Caught by Chinese Rebels. 145 



Swatow — -so the terrible force with which we struck may easily be 
imagined. Most of the crew were drowned in their hammocks ; for, 
even as the masts came crashing over the side, the ship — havino-, I 
believe, run up the side of a sloping rock — heeled right over, and, with 
her hold already full of water, slipped off and sank. 

Fortunately for me, though it was my watch below, I had been 
enjoying a cheroot, and building castles in the air, under the lee of the 
weather bulwarks amidships. When the ship struck, I was hurled rio-ht 
across the deck, striking with great violence against the carriage of 
the long gun. When I recovered myself she was sinking, and, amid 
falling spars, shouting men, dashing waves, and the terrible grind-' 
grind, crash-crash of the poor old vessel's hull upon the rocks, I seized 
one of the life-buoys hanging to the poop-rail, and sprang overboard. 
I jumped to leeward, knowing well that if I took the other side I should 
either be drifted under the hull or get into the chow-chow water rushing 
and eddying around the rocks. Getting one of the bights of the lan- 
yard over my head, and resting the edge of the buoy under my chin, 
I pushed it before me, nicely supporting myself in spite of the rough- 
ness of the sea, and striking out so vigorously that I scarcely felt the 
suction of the waters closing over the sinking ship. 

I was not alone in my struggle for life. I felt a melancholy 
sort of satisfaction in knowing that. Every now and then the tossing 
waves would show me here and there a small dark object; and I 
knew these dots as the heads of others swimming for their lives. But 
then, alas ! at short intervals, came, even above the howling of the 
gale, the "bubbling cry of some strong swimmer in his agony!" 
These fearful incidents would palsy my exertions for a time, during 
which I could not do more than cling despairingly to the life-buoy. 

I was not much of a swimmer, so, after the first spurt, did not ' 



K 



146 The Log of the Fortuna. 



make great progress towards the land. One by one the heads of my 
unfortunate companions disappeared, and I knew that I was alone — 
alone on that raging sea ! Who can imagine the mental agony I 
endured whilst clinging to that life-buoy ? Dashed hither and thither 
by the black-looking, strangely-sparkling phosphorescent waves, what 
an insiQ;"nihcant atom I became ! The frownintr heavens, hanoine low 
with heavy, inky clouds, afforded not one ray of hope- — one sign of 
comfort. Why or how could / be saved, when all my late companions 
had been doomed to perish ? Alone on the angry waters ! Alone ! 
with no saving hand to help ; no pitying heart to note my solitary 
agony ! No eye, save that of God, to witness my untimely death ! It 
was terrible — terrible ! I know not how long a time had elapsed — 
how long I had been struggling on, despair at my heart, and little 
energy in my efforts — when suddenly I was startled and overjoyed at 
the faint sound of a distant cry. What could it be ? In a moment — 
so tenacious of life are we frail mortals, and so easily aroused from the 
depths of despair to the extreme altitude of hope — I threw off the 
lethargic helplessness into which I had fallen, and shouted aloud with 
my utmost strength. How anxiously 1 strained my sense of hearing, 
in order to distinguish above the whistling of the fierce wind any sound 
that might come in reply ! I had not long to wait. The echo of that 
Avelcome voice came to me again, and I felt almost certain that it was 
my faithful Indian servant crying- - 

" Malem Sahib ! Malem Sahib ! '' (smallest sir, &c.) 
This was my Indian title, for I was the junior officer (third mate) 
of the late Shadow. I knew that the cry proceeded from the faithful 
Ali, he being the only native of the East Indies who had been on 
board. For seven years had he truly served me, and I almost con- 
sidered him more an inseparable humble friend than a menial. How I 



Caught by Chinese Rebels. 147 



should have done without him I know not. His services had become 
indispensable to me; and many a time had he saved my life by 
tenderly and carefully nursing me through fevers and epidemics that 
had proved fatal to many of my brother officers not so well looked 
after. When I left the Indian Navy and took to smuggling, AH 
accompanied me : he saved my life upon this occasion, after the loss 
of the Shadow, and once again, as will be seen hereafter. 

During a momentary lull of the gale I again heard him cry — 

" Hoodah, Sahib ! hoodah ! " (Hold on, sir ! hold on !) " hold on, 
sare, leede longer. I come. You sing out for me which way come." 

Before long, up to me he came from out of the surrounding dark- 
ness and desolation, pushing a stun'-sail-boom end on before him, and 
swimming wonderfully fast, considering the size of the spar. As for 
me, I could not possibly have swum another hundred yards, and the 
land was yet about two miles distant. 

" Sare," said Ali, upon getting hold of me, and lashing me fast 
to his spar with a bit of rope, " more bettah swim with me very jilti 
(quick) fast. Burrah Malem Sahib (the second mate) have go try 
to get ashore : he talk me have got tide set to Breaker Point. Spose 
not jilti jow (quickly go) we no can catch it : tide take us go outside. 
Ah ! Bode ar-char, bode ar-char ! I very too much glad to find you. 
I long time burrah (great) fear you have die — have sink down, down, 
to bottom of de sea ! " 

And the poor fellow, having been swimming about that wild sea 
to find me, actually shed tears of joy at having done so, I believe. 

His communication quite aroused me to the necessity of strenuous 
exertion. The tide set up the coast, and, from about the position where 
the Shadow went down, ran directly for Breaker Point. But then, as 
It would be sure to sweep outward again round the Point, unless we 

Y 2 



[48 



The Log of the Fortuna, 



could manage to swim far enough inland to be carried ashore inside that 

rocky extremity, we would surely be carried out to sea again and lost. 

AH, having lashed me fast to one end of the stun'-sail boom, 




THE OLD FISHERMAN. 



swam to the other ; and then, making himself fast to it with a piece of 
its lashing, proceeded to strike out vigorously for the shore, towing 
me and the boom after him, though I did my utmost to help. 

We passed through several tide-ripples, the thick spray from 



Caught by Chinese Rebels. 149 

which, tossed by the high sea and driven by the strong gale, flew so 
densely over us that I became insensible at last, and must have very 
nearly died of suffocation. 

AH was a native of Madras, where the people are the most 
expert swimmers in the world, and he was consequently quite at his 
ease in the water, even in the roughest weather. He got me ashore 
somehow, for when I regained my senses it was to find myself lying 
on the mud floor of a miserable little fisher hut, whilst he was bending 
over me, chafing my hands and striving to pour a basin of scalding 
tea down my throat. 

I soon recovered, and gazed around. The only other occupant of 
the wretched, one-roomed shanty was a wild-looking old Chinese 
fisherman ; and his appearance, by the scanty, flickering light shed by 
a piece of pith burning in a cup of fish-oil, was strange, savage, and 
outlandish. That part of the head which the Chinese usually shave 
clean was covered with at least a couple of months' growth of hair 
several inches long, and sticking straight and bristly up all round ; 
whilst his pig-tail, unplaited, was twisted loosely around his brawny 
throat. With the exception of loose petticoat trousers that had once 
been blue, but had now been washed out of any particular colour, and 
which were entirely composed of patches that hid the whole of the 
original stuff, this wild-looking fellow was perfectly naked. His face, 
arms, and chest, through constant exposure to the sun, the storm, and 
every kind of weather, had changed from the pale yellowish-brown 
Chinese complexion to the darkest tinge short of negro black. He 
sat watching us with astonishment, as well he might, considering how, 
through the raging storm, and over the angry sea, we had come 
drifting to his solitary beach. He spoke not ; neither did he move. 
Only his oblique little black eyes sparkled in the flickering lamplight. 



150 The Log of the Fortuna. 



For some moments he sat thus motionless and regarding us. He 
had seen AH drag me into his hut, and then take possession of his 
hot tea to pour down my throat, apparently with equal indifference. 
At length, however, when I had recovered sufficiently to stand up, 
we moved closer towards him, as the wind came whistling chilly 
throuo-h the larofe crevices of the rouofh door, near which I had been 
lying. No sooner had we left the entrance clear, than, with one swift 
bound, he sprang to his feet and dashed out of the place at a speed 
defying all pursuit. He had, no doubt, been so still and silent before 
through fear. From what I knew of Chinese character I felt 
pretty sure that he had taken us for a couple of real devils. He lived 
at a very lonely, out-of-the-way part of the coast, and most likely had 
never before seen either a white or a black man. No wonder that he 
felt superstitiously alarmed at the sudden and extraordinary first 
appearance before him of a specimen of each strange race. 

We were sitting, laughing at the fright of our unwilling host, 
when our merriment ceased upon the appearance of some one in the 
open doorway. The next moment, my brother officer and particular 
friend, Dick Savage, staggered into the hut, and, sinking by my side 
in an exhausted state, hoarsely said — ■ 

" Thank God ! Thank God, I am not alone !" 

We sat silent for a moment, clasping each other by the right 
hand. Then I asked — 

*' How did you ever manage to reach the shore, Dick ?" 
^ " Heaven alone can tell ! I swam it someJiowl' he replied. 
" But you ? How did you get saved ? You cannot swim nearly 
as well as I can, yet it was as much as ever I could do to reach the 
shore !" 

I pointed to my black friend, and said — 



Caught by Chinese Rebels. 151 



"All saved me, or I should be with the rest of our unfortunate 
shipmates ; for I fear that none besides ourselves have lived to tell 
the tale." 

" None!" emphatically cried my chum, "for I got ashore at the 
other end of this bay, and have walked all round it to get here ; but 
not a sign of them could I see, though, God knows ! I looked anxiously 
enough about. Little did I think to have the joy of finding yotiy 
Jack, safe, and landed before me ! " 

And I have no doubt that our eyes became rather moister than 
usual, as we clasped hands again, feeling overjoyed at the escape of 
ourselves, but being deeply affected at the terribly sudden loss of all 
our other shipmates and companions. 

Dick, however, was not of a disposition long to remain senti- 
mental, and though, upon rubbing his eyes with the back of his hands, 
he pretended that it was the effect of the salt water made them so red 
and moist, he soon recovered his exuberant animal spirits, and pro- 
ceeded to rummage about the hut in search of provisions, eventually 
bringing' to light a small pan of cold boiled rice and ditto fish. No 
other eatables were in the place, and these were very soon warming 
at the little charcoal stove. 

" I say," said he, suddenly, " suppose the Celestial owner of 
the shanty returns and finds us making ourselves at home .^ The 
coast people are particularly unscrupulous, and, if our unknown host 
should happen to return accompanied by his friends, the consequences 
might prove rather unpleasant to our humble selves !" 

Hereupon I communicated to my friend the hasty disappearance 
of the old fisherman just before his own arrival. Upon describing 
the wild-looking fellow's appearance and alarm, I happened to mention 
the unshaved state of his head. 



152 The Log of the Fortuxa. 



"What!" cried my friend, interrupting. " Unshaved, do you 
say ? Well, then, all I can tell you is that we have g-ot into a pretty 
place. We must be somewhere upon the territory occupied by the 
rebels — the ' Chung-maous ' {i.e., 'long-haired'). Those fellows, you 
know, do not shave the head ; but let all their hair grow long, in 
opposition to the shaven and tail-wearing badge of subjection imposed 
by the Tartars when they conquered China some two hundred years 
ago. No doubt, as patriots, they have a perfect right to rebel against 
the tyrannical Tartar government, and adopt the old Chinese custom 
of wearing the hair ; but then they are reported to be terribly cruel 
and remorseless. Shiver my timbers. Jack, I trust we shall not fall 
into their patriotic clutches !" 

I- had heard of this strange rebellion ; an insurrection rapidly 
increasing. It was supposed to combine a religious element with its 
political aim, for the insurgents were sometimes spoken of as " God- 
worshippers," sometimes as " Chung-maous." As for the stories of 
their cruelty, I did not at all believe them, knowing well the unreliable 
and distorted nature of all Chinese reports. We were discussing the 
point, whilst finishing the fisherman's eatables, when the sound of 
voices outside at once arrested our attention. 

Dick Savage having snatched up an old hatchet, I had just 
succeeded in making him give it up, and impressing upon his mind 
that implicit submission constituted our only chance to obtain good 
treatment from the natives, either rebels or Imperialists, when the 
door was opened, and in came — or rather, in was led — the old fisher- 
man, accompanied by half-a-dozen of his countrymen. 

Our host, bon gri, mal grd, trembled excessively as he once 
more faced, not two, but three supernatural visitors ! Evidently he 
had been compelled to return and lead his present companions to 



.Caught by Chinese Rebels. 153 

those whom he had no doubt described in an extraordinary manner. 
Upon finding his hut in possession of three strange beings, when he 
had left it in the hands of only two, his superstitious fears were 
greatly increased, and it was as much as ever the others could 
do to prevent him breaking from their hold and running away again. 
Immediately on their arrival I recognised those who accompanied 
the fisherman as rebels. I knew it by their v/ild, dashing, independent, 
and highly picturesque appearance ; moreover, their glossy black 
tresses were growing long and uncut, being gathered together at the 
back of the head and plaited into a long, thick tail, interwoven with 
red silk cord, which formed a large tassel at the end. This was then 
wound round the head as a natural turban, the scarlet tassel hanoringf 
over the left shoulder. A more handsome and becoming head-dress 
it would have been impossible to imagine ; the heavy braids of raven 
hair and scarlet silk shading their swarthy, sunburnt countenances 
and glittering black eyes. Then their dress also was quite different 
to any Chinese costume I had previously seen. The leader of the 
party, a tall, noble-looking man, wore a crimson silk hood, ornamented 
with a pearl badge over the forehead, probably denoting his rank ; 
this style and colour admirably became his dark, intelligent features. 
He was clad in a short silken jacket, quilted throughout, and of the 
same crimson hue as the hood. The rest of the party, evidently the 
chief's attendants, wore their own hair for head-dress, as before 
described, and were variously clad in scarlet or blue jackets and 
extremely wide black or blue petticoat trousers. All were armed 
except the chief, whose sword was carried by one of the others. 
The arms consisted of bows and arrows, matchlocks, spears, and 
every one wore a short, thick sword. 

Although, when this picturesque party appeared, Dick made a 



154 The Log of the Fortuna. 



wofully long face, and angrily muttered, " Caught by Chinese rebels ! 
just what I expected, by Jove ! I wonder how they'll eat us — roast or 
boiled ? " / nevertheless was at once favourably impressed by them. 
It was not altogether owing to their dashing manner and picturesque 
appearance ; but I appreciated the fact that there seemed about them 
an indescribable sort of moral elevation — an elevation and change of 
character as distinct from, and superior to, that of the ordinary 
Tartar-ruled Chinese I had hitherto encountered, as was their 
becoming difference of costume. Not long afterwards Dick became 
infected with the same idea ; in fact, as will be seen^ it produced a 
greater impression upon him than upon myself. 

Entering the hut, the chief advanced to where we were seated 
by the little charcoal fire, shivering in our wet clothes ; and after 
regarding us Intently for a moment or two, saluted us by clasping his 
hands and saying — 

" Tsin tsin, yang ta-jin.^" (How do you do, foreign excel^ 
lencies ?) 

" Hallo ! " cried Dick ; " why they don't seem so savage, 
after all." 

I understood a little Chinese, so returned the chief's salutation, 
and, rising to my feet, politely begged him to take a seat. 

The old fisherman — his fear giving way to curiosity — looked 
rather wroth at this, as though he thought the strange devils cheeky, 
anyhow, and then stepped forward to do the honours of his humble 
abode himself; politeness being quite a virtue with the interesting 
natives of China — the most alarming events seldom making them 
forget its practice. My breach of etiquette, having aroused the old 
fellow's breeding, quite dissipated his fears. The most ignorant 
Chinaman knows how to be polite, and civility seems natural to him, 




THE REBEL CHIEF, 



Caught by Chinese Rebels. 157 

when not corrupted by the proximity of Chinese braves or Tartar 
soldiers. 

The chief then, according to etiquette, inquired as to our names 
and native place. I informed him ; and when I told him how we 
had been wrecked, and how providentially we had managed to reach 
the shore, he expressed great pity and astonishment. He at once 
gave orders for two of his attendants to run back to their camp and 
take a party of men with torches to search along the beach for any 
more survivors of the wreck. But what surprised me more than all, 
instead of attributing our deliverance to poor dumb, wooden idol 
" Joss," as the ordinary Chinese would have done, he said that 
" Tien voo," i.e., " The Heavenly Father," had saved us. I now 
understood how it was the rebels had received the name of " God- 
worshippers." No doubt there was a strong religious element in the 
movement, and, at all events, the chief seemed to recognise the one 
true God, whereas his Imperialist countrymen were all either Con- 
fucionists or Buddhists. When, in my turn, I asked his name, native 
place, and employment, he informed me that his name was Le, that 
he came from the province of Kwang-si, and was now a chieftain in 
the army of " God-worshippers," lying encamped a mile or so inland. 
He now begged that we would accompany him thither ; which we 
were nothing loth to do, being wet, cold, and very miserable in our 
present wretched quarters. We were also greatly pleased at being 
addressed as "Foreign brothers" (" Yang-te"), whereas nearly all 
Chinese term foreigners " Foreign devils " (" Yang quitzos "). 

Upon reaching the camp, we were so tired that the chief allowed 
us to retire at once, he having provided us with dry Chinese clothes, 
warm rugs, and sleeping quarters in a tent close by his own. 

" Well," said Dick, " before we go to sleep, I must say that chief 



158 The Log of the Fortuxa. 



is a capital fellow — not a bit Chinese in appearance or behaviour. I 
like these rebels. Confound the lubberly swabs who run them down ! 
' Cruel murderers,' ' bloodthirsty brigands,' indeed ! They are far 
better men than those who term them so. What do you say, 
Jack.?" 

I readily assented, being convinced that the insurrectionists were 
far superior, both physically and intellectually, to the rest of their 
countrymen. I could only account for this very extraordinary change 
by supposing it to be the ennobling effect of their determined break 
from the degrading systems of idolatry and slavery to which the 
Chinese people have so long been subjected. In the morning, the 
first thing that we did was to climb over a neighbouring ridge of rock, 
ascend a lofty eminence, and gaze forth upon the scene of the previous 
night's disaster. The bay at which we had managed to get ashore 
lay fully revealed before us, and a dreary, bleak, desolate, and yet 
wildly picturesque, scene it was. 

Not a sigrn or vestigfe of either the wreck or our late comrades 
could we see, so we decided to have a nearer inspection of the beach 
before leaving that part. Just then we were astonished by the loud 
sound of prayer coming from the direction of the camp, so turned 
back to it, and then saw a sight that I shall never forget. 

The army was camped upon a large plain, and now the whole 
extent of level ground was covered with a vast multitude on their 
knees in prayer. The leader and originator of this wonderful move- 
ment was standing upon a slightly elevated platform, reading from 
what I ascertained to be a Chinese translation of the Bible. He 
was a tall, handsome man, In the prime of life, with regular, almost 
European, features, an extremely massive brow, and an eye of fire. 
He was something more than a remarkable native ; he would have 



Caught by Chinese Rebels, i6i 

been a distinguished and leading man In any country. His whole 
appearance presented an Indescribable nobleness and dignity. His 
presence was imposing and commanding. His loud, sonorous, and 
melodious voice penetrated far over that wide-stretching plain, and 
the eloquent words seemed to thrill to the heart of every kneeling 
follower. The chief evidently possessed a mighty power over the 
varied host at his feet. I saw, in a moment, that his will was theirs ; 
that an intense enthusiasm, made up of excited patriotism and religious 
fervour, pervaded the whole multitude ; and that all as one man 
eagerly fulfilled his slightest behest. This extraordinary man, already 
clad in the yellow imperial robes, denoting his own ambition and the 
wish of his followers to plant him upon the throne in place of the 
present usurping Tartar occupant, was Hung-Sui-tshuen, the leader 
and originator of the rebellion, and who, later, upon the capture of 
Nankin and many other important places, became known to Euro- 
peans as the Tie7i Wang — i.e., Heavenly King — the king and high 
priest of the great Taiping revolution. 

As I gazed forth upon that kneeling multitude, athwart whose 
upturned faces the early morning sun now cast aslant its golden 
rays of glory, I felt that the hand of God was plainly visible in the 
remarkable sight before me. How, otherwise, could these thousands 
and tens of thousands have arisen from their depths of heathenism 
and degradation 1 The ancient and mystic lore — the deeply-venerated 
teaching of the deified sages of China — followed and implicitly believed 
for upwards of two thousand years — had been cast aside, and this 
regenerating host now bent the knee so devoutly in the Christian 
faith and worship of the true God. 

As we looked forth from our tent, and stood dumb with astonish- 
ment at the strange scene, the multitude rose up from their knees, 

L 



l62 



The Log of the Fort una. 




and, in obedience to 
the gesture of their 
leader, every voice 
was lifted up in a 
simple hymn of praise 
and supplication. So 
strange and forebod- 
ing a sight had never 
before been witnessed 
in that ancient and 
exclusive country, and 
it promised hope for 
arousing the vast 
Chinese population 
from the state of moral 
lethargy in which they 
had so long been sunk. 
Altogether, an extra- 
ordinary psychological 
phenomenon was be- 
fore us. That varied 
host contained men, 
boys, women, girls, 
children, and vener- 
able persons hanging 
for support on the 
arms of their younger 
relatives. They were 
of every rank and 



A FEMALE REBEL OFFICER. 



Caught by Chinese Rebels. 



163 







/' <^" %' 







THE LAST SEARCH FOR TRACES OF THE WRECK. 



grade, from the poor coolie to him who had been a wealthy mandarin; 
and all alike, both man, woman^ and child, seemed Imbued with the 
same relig-ious fervour and patriotic enthusiasm. Many of the women 
were armed, and they were all formed into regular sections of twenty- 
five, under a female officer. Many of these female officers were young 
and handsome women; but now the softer feelings, the coquetry, and 
the more frivolous occupations of the sex, seemed given up and 
abandoned for the stern realities of war. The women were all kept 
apart from the men in separate camps, and their higher officers were 
(at this place) lodged in a solitary Confucian temple, at the door of 
which one of them kept guard, spear in hand. The men were all 
employed as soldiers, and were formed in very uneven regiments 

L 2 



i54 The Log of the Fortuna. 



under their respective officers. Weapons were rough and scarce, 
the drilhng evidently Imperfect ; but the strictest discipUne prevailed, 
and this, no doubt, together with their great enthusiasm, gave the 
insurgents that surprising superiority over the Imperialist troops 
which had ensured them the victory in every encounter.^ The 
infinite variety of their military costume, chosen of the brightest 
and most gorgeous colours; the rich floating folds of the innumerable 
silken banners streaming on the wind ; the grandeur, the solemn 
grandeur, of those myriad voices echoing back with prolonged rever- 
beration from the high crests of the neighbouring mountains ; the 
whole variegated appearance of the multitude of well and becomingly- 
dressed members of a new people, as it were, united for the cause 
of freedom, and even more united in the fixed determination to 
Christianise their mighty empire— these facts presented a grand and 
wonderfully imposing moral aspect. 

I had heard of this wonderful movement. How its leader had 
singularly met with a copy of the Scriptures translated into Chinese; 
how he had been himself converted by it, and then imagined that he 
had a divine commission to convert his countrymen; how, also, 
upon meeting with extraordinary success, his congregation of " God- 
worshippers" had taken up arms in consequence of the cruel perse- 
cutions to which the mandarins had subjected them ; but litde did I 
dream what a mighty movement had been set on foot. Even as we were 
still gazing upon the strange scene, bewildered with the singular change 
from our terrible shipwreck on the previous evening, the prayers 
came to a conclusion— the mighty voice of that vast concourse of 
upwards of one hundred thousand persons became silent, save where 
the officers gave their sharp commands, as the whole army prepared 
to strike its tents and march. 



Caught by Chinese Rebels. 165 

At this moment a party of soldiers came to furl our tent and 
take it with the rest, and I accompanied them to the division com- 
manded by our friend the chieftain, Le; whilst my companion, 
getting a pipe and some tobacco, took a last and solitary walk along 
the beach, without, however, finding any trace whatever of the wreck. 

All day long the march was continued without a single halt, and 
I became aware that a large Imperialist army was following close in 
pursuit. At length, towards dusk, the course of a swollen river 
delayed our march until the vanguard of the pursuers came in sight 
The commander of the rebels now pushed forward with the maiit 
body of his followers, convoying baggage, women, and non-combatants, 
and leaving General Le with a rearguard to dispute the passage of 
the river as long as possible. 

We had marched far inland, and the formation of the country 
was mountainous, the river, for many miles both above and below 
the crossing, flowing between steep rocky banks. Though elsewhere 
the breadth of the stream was rather insignificant, yet at the point to 
which, on either side, the low land descended and the beaten roads 
converged, it spread out into lake-like fulness, and was studded with 
numerous heavily- wooded islets; whilst here and there, just showing 
above the surface of the water, some glittering sand-banks attested 
that the generally deep channel had become shallow in proportion 
to its increased breadth. 

On these low islands, and the shore to which his retreating friends 
had crossed, Le posted his men, and prepared to resist the enemy ; and, 
somehow, having remained with him, we made up our minds to assist 
him ; a sort of Anglo-Saxon pride preventing us watch the prepara- 
tions for the coming fight as non-combatants. 

Contrary to usual Chinese tactics (which consist in making a mani- 



1 66 The Log of the Fortuna. 

fold greater display than the real force justifies) our chief masked every 
position, and placed his men in perfect concealment. 

When the Imperialists reached the large military station on the 
opposite side of the river, they found that we (as we joined in their 
proceedings, I suppose that Dick, Ali, and myself, were entitled to 
speak of the rebel " God-worshippers " as " we ") ; well, then, the 
enemy, found that we had not only looted their station, but had also 
very wisely carried off all the gun-boats and other craft. The pursuit 
was, therefore, arrested until some means of crossing could be obtained. 
We could see parties of cavalry setting off both up and down the bank, 
probably to bring in any boats that might be found. Meanwhile 
other detachments of the enemy were busily at work constructing 
rafts. 

On the following day a strong squadron of gun-boats arrived from 
some neighbouring station. These vessels are about forty feet long, 
six or seven wide, very shallow, and pull from ten to twenty oars a side ; 
carrying, also, a mast (or two) and sail, a couple of six or twelve- 
pounder guns (one in the bow, the other in the stern), and a crew of 
from twenty-five to fifty men. They constitute an effective and 
formidable musquito flotilla on the lakes, rivers, and innumerable 
canals of China. 

After a very cursory reconnoitre of our shore, the Imperialists 
made preparations to effect the crossing ; being, no doubt, deceived by 
our silence and secrecy, and believing that the passage would not be 
disputed. It was quite dusk when the rafts were finished, and then a 
small squadron of gun-boats came over to our side of the river in order 
to protect the intended landing-place. As nothing could be seen of 
the rebels, the crews — with true Chinese apathy — spread their awnings 
fore and aft, boiled their evening rice, and then resigned themselves to 



Caught by Chinese Rebels. 169 



sleep, leaving a man to keep the gong going in the bow of each 
vessel ; as for keeping any look-out, that seemed to be the last thought 
of the mariners on watch, their entire energy being divided between 
snatching the regular intervals of slumber which they had accustomed 
themselves to enjoy when on duty, and mechanically starting up to 
make a noise by striking one clanging blow on the gong, following it 
up by two strokes in rapid succession, and then to sleep again. 
Little did they dream how very closely they were being watched ! 

Gradually the misty vapours, blending with the shades of night, 
formed a thick haze over the surface of the water ; the heavily- wooded 
islets, as well as the further shore, becoming perfectly hidden from the 
Imperialist encampment. At something like hourly intervals, however, 
the faint klang-ng-ng, klang-klaug of the gongs on board the advanced 
squadron could be heard ; between while quack, qzmck, quack went the 
countless flocks of wild-fowl ; and these sounds, mingling with the 
melancholy note of the solitary bittern, the peculiar cry of the startled 
curlew, and the heavy, humming noise of the busy nocturnal insects, con- 
tinued till the dawn of day. No change was noticed by the Imperialist 
sentinels and patrols ; no suspicion of danger was entertained by the 
drowsy watchmen of the distant gun-boats. 

Towards midnight, however, great flocks of the wild birds flew 
screaming from their favourite haunts among the islands of the river, 
and the solitary creeks, inlets, and lagoons of the shore to which the 
retreating host had crossed. It would have required keen eyes in close 
proximity to have distinguished the shadowy human forms stealing 
forward through the thick mist and heavy darkness resting upon the 
dense vegetation of the islets and the neighbouring land. From out 
numberless natural hiding-places, where little streams slowly fl.owed in 
silence and in solitude beneath umbrageous canopies of spreading 



lyo The Log of the Fortuna. 



foliage and weeping- willow, a good many tiny boats or punts (such as are 
used all over China by the numerous keepers of the vast flocks of tame 
ducks) were gently paddled to an appointed rendezvous at the largest 
islet, where the chief, Le, had established his head-quarters. From 
this position the distance was but short to where the enemy's out- 
lying vessels were stationed off the river's bank. 

Klang-ng-ng, klang-klang, sonorously reverberated the gongs. 
Then all became silent again. At length, when half the time to the 
striking of the next hour had fled, several dark little objects might have 
been discerned hovering near the Imperialist squadron, but so small and 
undistinguishable from the surrounding darkness, that, even had the 
sleepy watchmen happened to notice them, they would most likely have 
taken them for wild geese or swans sleeping on the surface of the water. 
These little objects soon drifted away. 

Soon afterwards the rebel chief received the report of his scouts, 
several punts having returned with information. 

It was almost time to beat the gong again, but the dozing watch- 
men started up only to find themselves in our hands. A loud voice 
called upon them to surrender or die, and they chose the former with 
unanimous and truly Celestial apathetic equanimity. With muffled 
oars and rowlocks we had come down upon the enemy with the gun- 
boats that had been captured at the station, and by which the insurgent 
host had crossed the river. 

Within five minutes the outlying squadron was towed ofl" to the 
secret places among the islands. 

Great must have been the astonishment of the Tartar oreneral and 
his army when daylight made them aware cf the disappearance of their 
friends. Several o-un-boats were at once sent off to ascertain whether 
they were lying behind tbe islands. The detachment proceeded on its 



Caught by Chinese Rebels. 171 

mission, but did not return. We were on the alert, and, no sooner 
had the explorers become hidden by the islands that they left between 
themselves and their position on the opposite shore, than we sud- 
denly pounced upon them from our places of concealment, and 
captured them without encountering more than a momentary show 
of resistance. The enemy waited patiently for several hours, but 
then, finding that the second squadron neither returned nor replied 
to their signal-guns, began to suspect our rebellious presence, and made 
ready to explore the islands with their whole flotilla. 

In the meanwhile our host and General was busy with his men 
constructing three new batteries, and mounting them with cannon taken 
from some of the prizes. We heartily assisted ; and, from my know- 
ledge of gunnery, I was enabled to be of some service, as I induced the 
chief to plant one battery in front, on the principal island, and one on. 
either flank, so as to give a powerful cross-fire. The Chinese know 
that Europeans are better gunners than they can pretend to be, and 
Le, ta-j'in, at once installed us as his principal artillerists. Dick remained, 
ashore with the largest battery, whilst I and my faithful Ali proceeded 
on board the best-armed gun-boat. 

At last the Imperialists began to advance, and a gallant sight they 
made, each of their vessels being profusely decorated with gaudy flags,, 
and being filled with fully accoutred troops. Blowing their strange, 
melancholy-sounding war-horns, and keeping up a tremendous crash of 
gongs and Tartar drums, they rowed forward in close order. On they 
came, faster and faster, more daring and fearless as no sign of foe could 
be detected, until within a hundred yards of the largest islet, when sud- 
denly, as if by magic, the artificial screens of cut boughs were thrown 
aside, and the three batteries opened a steady, well-directed cannonade,, 
whilst all the captured gun-boats were pulled to the most commanding 



172 The Log of the Fortuna. 

situations to take part in the conflict, and every bush seemed alive with 
an armed man. Though taken by surprise, the Imperiahsts gallantly 
replied to our fire, and still endeavoured to advance. 

Startled and scared from their most secluded retreats, the 
affrighted wild-fowl hurried to and fro amongst the rank growth of 
sedge and osier. Occasionally some curious or daring bird would 
paddle its way to the margin of the rushes, in which case the flash of 
the artillery, and the sight of the battle array, always made it fly 
shrieking away. The timid fish rose in alarm to the surface only to 
dive deeper than ever to the lowest recesses of the river's bed ; but 
their more ravenous brethren glided eagerly about in the neighbour- 
hood of the battle, swimming as watchful and expectantly as the great 
carrion birds were waiting on the nearest trees, or soaring and circling 
high o'erhead. These things of prey had not long to wait, for the 
mangled bodies of Imperial soldiers, slain by our cannonade, were cal- 
lously tossed overboard by their comrades, and sent drifting away with 
the current ; and soon the savage birds and fishes were fighting as 
desperately over the bleeding carcases as the living men were striving 
their utmost to increase the number. 

I can think of all this now, but at the time it seemed more like 
a dream. Only a day or two before, we had formed part of the 
Shadow s crew, and now ! — now we were fighting against the Imperial 
Chinese troops, and serving in the ranks of the extraordinary 
rebels known as " God-worshippers ! " We had no time to mourn 
for our lost shipmates ; had it not been for the fatigue and bruises 
we still felt, the shipwreck would have seemed an event of the far 
past. 

I can think of the incidents of the fight, and the change it 
caused on the face of nature, now, at this distant period ; but during 



Caught by Chinese Rebels. 173 

the engagement I became very seriously occupied in a desperate 
hand-to-hand encounter with one of the Imperial gun-boats. 

One of our smallest craft had been sent with a message to the 
battery on the left flank of our position. This was on the main land, 
and all our gun-boats were concentrated higher up the river, between 
the central and right batteries. Having observed the departure of 
our despatch boat, one of the enemy's largest galleys had managed to 
follow in pursuit without exciting our attention, in consequence of the 
clouds of sulphurous smoke having just then drifted so as to obscure 
our view in that direction. When the wind happened to shift a little, 
we were infuriated to witness the fate of the small boat's crew. These 
unfortunates, being unable to escape from the galley which had 
followed them, seemed to have laid down their arms and surrendered. 
The smoke cleared from that direction just as the enemy's craft had 
run alongside. What was our horror and indignation when we saw 
the captors set upon and cruelly butcher their unfortunate prisoners ! 
Forcing the necks of these wretched men upon the gunnel of the 
boat, the Imperialist braves barbarously hacked off their heads, 
leisurely inflicting the most horrible wounds, and effecting the 
decapitation by slowly sawing backwards and forwards with their 
knives. This was right in sight of our chief, who at once ordered 
the vessel I was on board to eo round the back of one of the islands 
and try to cut off the bloodthirsty monsters from their friends. 

The cruel sight had fairly raised my passions, and I felt as 
savage against the cruel enemy as did any of my rebel companions. 
Whilst they were pulling round the back of several islets, with the 
help of Ali I proceeded to carefully load the bow-gun (a foreign-made 
nine-pounder) with a heavy charge of grape and canister. By the 
time I had finished, and stood ready, match in hand, our boat had 



174 The Log of the Fortuna. 

reached the extreme end of an island a Httle above where the enemy's 
galley was lying. Pulling close under cover of the bushes, we held 
■on to the bank a moment, and then several of us stepped ashore to 
peer through the foliage and reconnoitre the position of the Im- 
perialists before making a dash at them. The gun-boat was not fifty 
yards from where we lay, and we saw that the massacre was over, as 
she was towing the captured vessel astern, whilst all round the sides 
■of the latter the gory heads of her unfortunate crew were sticking up 
on the ends of spears. In obedience to the low order of the captain 
of our galley, those who had crept ashore returned to their stations. 
The oars were doubly manned, and then, pushing off from the shore, 
we dashed upon the enemy, as our leader, standing up in the stern- 
sheets, waved his sword and cried, " Shang ! shang ! " (Forward f 
forward !) 

Straining every nerve, our stalwart rowers made their tough 
■oars bend like reeds, and the boat sprang forward through the water 
like a thing of life. 

" Tah paou ! tah paou ! " (Fire the gun, &c.) roared the rebel 
captain. 

I took a steady aim, Ali levered the black -looking muzzle just 
an inch or two to the right, then down went the burning match, and, 
even as the loud roar awoke repeated echoes among the woody 
islands, we could hear the dull thud of the grape, and the patter 
p[itter of the canister shot, taking effect on the adverse galley. Half 
a dozen of her men went down beneath the tempest of initraille, the 
rest were too confused by our sudden appearance and effective fire to 
cut adrift their prize and get out of our way. Dropping their oars, 
most of them snatched up their arms to repel our attack, instead of 
pulling their vessel round and returning our fire. Giving one more 



Caught by Chinese Rebels. 175 



vigorous pull altogether, which sent our galley stem on to the enemy's 
broadside, our crew then left their oars, took up their weapons, and, 
with a loud yell or cheer, we were upon the butchers of our comrades. 

Matchlocks were fired, arrows whistled, spear-thrusts and sword- 
cuts were fiercely exchanged, and, after recovering from the shock 
with which we ran into them, the Imperial braves made desperate 
efforts to board us. During the melee, as the vessels drifted side by 
side, we saw the reason of their attempt. The force with which 
we had run into them had stove in portions of their hull below the 
surface, and their craft was rapidly filling with water. In spite of 
their loss from the discharge of our bow-gun, the enemy were still 
more numerous than ourselves, and we had to fight hard in order to 
keep them off. It was a regular hand-to-hand combat, nearly every 
man having one or more assailants. Somehow, I became engaged with 
the petty mandarin commanding the enemy. He was a tall, powerful 
fellow, and, no doubt, according to Chinese practice, a good swords- 
man. The boats were lying locked with their gunnels close together, 
so that we fought over the low sides, only a foot and a half high. 
My antagonist was armed with one of the straight and heavy Tartar 
cavalry swords, whilst I had a still more awkward Chinese-made 
blade. But for this, I could soon have ended the contest, for I had 
the reputation of being one of the best swordsmen in the Indian navy. 
My enemy was a strong fellow, and rained his blows both quick and 
heavy, still he could not touch me ; but then my sword was so 
wretchedly made and clumsy a contrivance that I could not possibly 
handle it quick enough to take advantage of the many openings he 
gave me. 

This resultless combat had been going on for some time — in 
silence on my part, though the mandarin kept encouraging himself and 



I '76 The Log of the Fortuna. 



his braves by yelling, " Tah ! tah ! " (Fight ! fight !) and abusing me 
by shouting at me, " Sar, yang-quitzo !" (Kill the foreign devil!) 

At length, however, a savage-looking brave stepped to the side 
of his officer, and, bringing down his bamboo spear to the charge, 
prepared to impale me. The mandarin, encouraged at this, pressed 
me harder, and I could not give any attention to my new assailant 
Another instant, and his spear would have been through me, when 
the faithful AH came springing to my assistance. 

With the marvellous rapidity of thought that sometimes takes' 
place at such moments of extreme peril, I was just impressed with 
a confused sort of lightning-like panorama of my past life — I saw 
a dear fair face at home in England, and thought what a fool I was 
to get killed by mixing myself in the battles of the strange Chinese 
rebels — when AH saved my life, and, alas ! poor fellow, lost his own 
in doing so. 

He had already received a severe wound on the forehead, and I 
cannot tell whether or not he was half blinded with the blood flowing 
into his eyes ; but, unfortunately, instead of attacking the brave, he 
paid all his attention to the mandarin. Whirling aloft the short 
halbert he carried, he buried the axe-like blade in the brain of my 
immediate antagonist, but at the same instant was himself run 
through the heart by the spear-thrust intended for me. Before 
the brave could withdraw his weapon or move from the spot, 
the point of my sword had passed out at his back, and AH was 
avenged. 

I sprang back to the centre of our boat, and lifting the prostrate 
form of my faithful servant, was just in time to catch his dying sob. 
He opened his glazing eyes, and with difficulty said — 

" Oh, Sahib ! master safe ? I no care ; Bhudda talk die, I can't 



Caught by Chinese Rebels. 177 



stop. Sahib, no let Chinaman put me — grave — ^lose caste. Don't 
forget me, Sahib " 

He was dead. 

I imagine the fight only lasted another moment or two. We 
were victorious, completely so. The unfortunate boat's crew of 
captured and murdered rebels had been amply avenged ; the Impe- 
rialist galley, with every soul on board, had been destroyed, and 
rested at the bottom of the river. The "God-worshippers" con- 
gratulated themselves, but / — I mourned for the death of my 
faithful companion and servant. This sad event, together with the 
vivid feeling that came over me in the moment of peril, and left 
behind a strong impression as to the folly of getting killed in a 
Chinese quarrel, and losing for ever that loved One in the old 
country, made me determine to leave the insurgents at the first oppor- 
tunity, though I liked and admired them considerably. 

Upon getting back to General Le's position, the battle had 
ceased, the enemy having been beaten off with heavy loss. The 
fearful hurtling noise and crashing of the deadly missiles, the terrible 
roar, and glare, and sulphurous smoke of battle no longer made the 
beautiful earth seem hideous. The waving flags no longer fluttered 
in defiance ; the dissonant clanging of gong, the hollow beating of 
drum, and the dismal blast of war-horn had died away ; the heavy 
bank of smoke was fast fading in the distance ; the never-ceasing 
waters still flowed on, but the bright surface was no more broken by 
the splash and eddying ripple rising up from where the mangled 
remains of poor mortality had sunk. The birds became reassured, 
and flew merrily back to sing to the beauties of a splendid afternoon. 
The little fish again began to leap and play ; their finny foes had 
ceased to chase and devour them ; they were otherwise engaged. 

M 



lyS The Log of the Fortuna. 

All nature seemed to rejoice at the cessation of strife, and put forth, 
its utmost charms to shame the murderous ferocity of man. 

That evening, having received despatches from his leader, whose 
forces had captured and entered the city of Swatow without encoun- 
tering any resistance, our chief silently abandoned his position and 
rejoined the main body. 

The chieftain's wife was a charming person— most unusually 
well-informed and intelligent for a Chinese woman. She was very 
kind to us, and did all in her power to make us as comfortable as 
circumstances would permit. She shared in all the dangers of the 
fight, and was to be seen by her husband's side, in command of a 
female regiment, during the fiercest of the engagement. She was, 
fortunately for our native friend, as good a wife as Amazon ; she 
rejoiced in the euphonious name of the Princess Wan-mel, and was 
very good-looking for a member of the great Mongolian family. 

I carried — or rather, with the help of my friend Dick, carried — the 
body of poor AH, and took care to observe his last request, that no 
Chinaman should touch him, and thereby, even In death, cause him to 
lose the caste to which he belonged. Though we supported the lifeless 
clay upon a sort of hammock slung to a couple of bamboo spears, it 
was hard work to reach Swatow with the burden ; and though we 
Europeans may laugh at the East Indian's bigoted superstitions of 
caste, I could not do less for one who had so faithfully served me for 
so many years ; who had several times saved my life ; and who, at 
last, had sacrificed his own for mine. On Double Island (the foreign 
settlement at the port of Swatow) the remains of poor AH were 
consigned to their last resting-place, in that corner of the cemetery 
appropriated to natives of India. Poor AH ! I could only raise a. 
roughly-carved block of wood to his memory. 




PRINCESS WAN-MEI. 



M 2 



Caught by Chinese Rebels. i8i 

Swatow was a port of considerable trade, and off Double Island 
some nine or ten European ships were riding at anchor. Taking 
leave of the chief, Le, I proceeded on board one of these vessels, 
meeting with a very kind reception from her ofiicers upon making 
known the wreck of the Shadow and my own distressed circum- 
stances. 

My old chum accompanied me to the hospitable ship, but only 
to obtain some good arms, necessary clothing, and various useful 
things, such as a small compass, a telescope, medicines, &c., for he 
had determined to remain with the rebels and cast his fortune with 
theirs. Dick had become even more favourably impressed by them 
than I. If it had not been for the vivid recollections of my darling 
Fanny, whom I hoped to claim as my wife upon returning to England 
within a year, I should certainly have yielded to the earnest solici- 
tations of the gallant chieftain, Le, and so have joined him with my 
friend. However, I bade Dick a lingering adieu ; he tore himself 
away with a parting wrench of the hand, and we never met again. 
In due course of time I visited home and claimed my bride. Once 
again, six years later, I made my last voyage to China. Then I 
found that Dick Savaore was well known as a favourite Q-eneral of 
the celebrated Chung Wong, i.e., the Faithful Prince — Le, the Com- 
mander-in-Chief of the Taiping armies. At this time the revolution 
had wonderfully increased, and had wrested some of the fairest and 
richest provinces from the sway of the Manchoo-Tartar Government. 
The name of " God-worshippers" had been changed to " Taiping." 
Hung-Sui-tshuen, the leader and originator of the movement — he 
whom I had seen preaching to his followers the morning after my 
shipwreck — had been crowned Emperor of China, with the title of 
Tien Wong ; his government and capital was established at the 



1 82 The Log of the Fortuna. 

great and ancient city of Nankin ; the style and title adopted for the 
new Chinese dynasty being Tai ping Hen kwok, i.e., The Celestial 
Kingdom of Universal Peace. These facts are notorious, and show 
the grand projects, as well as the vast designs, which speedily 
unfolded themselves to the mind of the extraordinary leader. 
Nothing but an expulsion of the hated Tartar tyrants, the subversion 
of the idolatrous system, and the incorporation of the whole nation 
into one empire of " Universal Peace," as believers in the one true 
God and Saviour, with the Tien Wong himself as political head and 
religious chief of the whole, could henceforth satisfy the victorious 
insurgents, inflamed by enthusiasm and animated by past success. 
The strange history of that remarkable religio-political movement is 
now pretty well familiar to the world. From what I personally saw 
of the rebels I am convinced that they would have proved the 
regenerators of their country, if let alone by foreign powers. 

There is nothing more to relate. I have told how we were 
caught by Chinese rebels. Dick became a famous general among 
them ; but I, for my own part, prefer Fan and our comfortable little 
English home to all the rebels in the world. 



THE LOG. 

January 13//^ — One dell, ik. -^om. a.m., had struck. 

Concluding his yarn with a sigh of relief, Old Jack Backstay 
lugged forth a large golden locket from some secret recess near his 
heart, held it off admiringly for a moment at arm's length, and then 
pressed it to his lips with a hearty, ringing kiss. Of course, our 
curiosity being raised, we all had to have a look at his treasure, when 
a charming English face was revealed, and we all united in wishing 
our sturdy mariner a safe and speedy return to the arms of his loving 
Fan. A motion was proposed, and carried with unanimous accla- 
mation, that our friend had spun the best and longest yarn — for it 
was of strange historical events even at this time in full course of 
action in that singular, interesting, vast, and little-known country 
where we all met together. 

My idea of story-telling had proved a decided success ; so much 
so, indeed, that not one of us regretted having lost the proposed 
cruise by sticking in the mud ; and then our days were pleasantly 
passed in shooting, fishing, and rambling about the wild and beautiful 
scenery of the coast off which we had grounded — an occupation 
that also kept the " Angel " fully employed in working out various 
grilled, broiled, and roasted results, with a cunning and ingenuity 
peculiar to himself. 

By this time my health and strength seemed fully restored — 
thanks to the change from that sultry, low-lying, unhealthy Shanghai, 



1 86 The Log of the Fortuna. 

to the fresh, invigorating sea-air, and our enlivening ways and means 
pour tuer le temps. 

'jk. a.m. 

Six bells struck this morning as we assembled on deck to 
have our usual bath. This delightful operation consisted in being 
douched with many buckets of sea- water ; after which, like young 
horses, we were each vigorously rubbed down by a couple of sturdy 
Chinese tars, and our day began. 

Again were our untvusty mariners employed In trying to heave 
the Fortuna off the mud-bank ; but, although the rising tide nearly 
floated us, it fell again so soon, that their efforts were futile, and we 
remained in our old quarters. 

After breakfast we all went ashore for another exploring excur- 
sion, and pulled a considerable distance along the coast to find a new 
landing-place. Instead, however, of doing this, we came upon the 
entrance to a large creek, of wild and picturesque appearance, as 
shown by the accompanying sketch. 

Those big boots of mine came In very handy, except on this 
occasion. All around, about, and inside the mouth of the creek were 
numerous banks, some of mud, others of sand. These, naturally 
enough, formed the feeding-ground and resting-place to numerous 
flocks of wild-fowl. Getting a good shot at a covey of teal, I 
knocked several over, and they fell about the middle of one of these 
shoals. When the boat grounded I got out, depending upon my 
long boots to keep my feet dry, and went to pick up the birds. For 
the first few yards I went forward pretty well, but then each step I 
took went deeper ; and, foolishly enough, I persisted In going on, 
until at length, when about half-way between the boat and the birds, 



IISI'lllPBT'iafllPIT!" 



lllillilBllil ',' .Jii,!!lSli;HII,;,iii!!lllillll|li;liilililllf,ll|.llll!:ililt!ll.| 




The Log. 189 

I could neither advance nor return, whilst every moment saw me sink 
deeper and deeper in the treacherous soil. I then, for the first time, 
thoroughly experienced the extraordinary tenacity of Chinese mud — 
all the rivers, creeks, bays, and lagoons along the coast of the country 
are full of it. The more I struggled to get clear and return, the deeper 
I sank; when I was down to my knees I called to my friends for 
help. As I floundered about I lost my balance, and fell into the 
mud, becoming covered, as Esmond afterwards related to an admiring 
audience at Shanghai, from " clue to earing." At last the tops of 
my boots went below the surface and filled ; and it was only after I 
had fastened the end of a rope (fling to me from the boat) around 
my waist, that my friends succeeded in extricating me from my par- 
ticularly unenviable position and imminent risk of suffocation, and 
dragging me bodily through the mud on board. The boots were left 
behind ; but the next morning an adventurous fisherman brought 
them on board — not altogether out of purely philanthropic motives, 
I venture to opine. 

As it was too far to return on board the schooner for dry clothes, 
my comrades supplied me with various articles of attire until my own 
became sufBciently dry by hanging in the sun. 

Meanwhile, our Chinese boatmen pulled away up the creek, which, 
in some places, became deep and narrow, between rocky banks, the 
land on either side being covered with a splendidly luxuriant mass of 
tropical vegetation. 

We enjoyed ourselves very much in rambling about the beautiful 
scenery of this neighbourhood, and still kept pulling forward up the 
creek ; now bumping upon shoals when it spread out broad and 
shallow at a part where the land was low and marshy, then narrowing 
to a deep and rapid course, with a rocky channel, below precipitous 



190 The Log of the Fortuna. 

and overhanging banks ; and then, anon, flowing silently and darkly 
beneath the umbrageous canopy of rustling, overarching foliage 
covering it in from side to side, and which sometimes hung so low 
upon the shaded waters that we had a difficulty in forcing our little 
sanpan through. 

Our perseverance was at length well rewarded. After, forcing 
our way along the creek for nearly an hour, we suddenly emerged 
upon the bosom of a magnificent river. It was not so much the 
stream itself — which was little more than half a mile broad, though 
very deep — as the grand and rugged scenery upon its banks that we 
admired. We sailed about for some little time, sometimes in the 
shadow of huge, towering masses of gigantic basalt cliffs, rising sheer 
from the river's edge to a height of many hundred feet, and darkly 
imprisoning its rock-bound channel between their stupendous sides. 

We found but few signs of habitation along the margin of this 
beautiful stream, but, at one of the few little huts we came across, 
ascertained that it was the river Yu-yaou, which runs into, or is a 
branch of, the Fung-wha river, just where the city of Ningpo is built. 
It is true, the banks of the Yu-yaou seemed rocky and sterile, and this 
may account for its absence of population. Besides, it is not navi- 
gable to the sea, whilst the other branches of the Ningpo river which 
are, are thickly dotted all along their course with numerous towns 
and villages. 

At noon we left the Yu-yaou, and, by way of the creek, returned 
on board. After tiffin, as the rest of our friends preferred remaining 
on board, Esmond and I took the ship's boat, and went out for some 
deep-sea fishing at a famously good spot a mile or so to seaward. 

Here we had rare success, and in a short time nearly filled the 
stern-sheets of the boat with the captured fish. As, however, we had 



The Log. 193 

lost several lines, snapped with the greatest ease by some strange 
monsters of the deep, our curiosity and indignation became aroused, 
and we determined to catch and do to death some one or more of 
these formidable creatures. Taking a coil of two and a half inch rope, 
we fixed to it our largest hook, baited it with a large and tempting 
lump of pork fat, then tossed it over the side, awaiting the result in 
a fiendish sort of glee. We had not long to wait. There was sud- 
denly a tremendous tug. 

" Hooked him, by Jupiter ! " roared Esmond. 

Then up he hauled a huge sea-bream, nearly as big as himself, 
and which he had the utmost difficulty to get on board, whilst I laid 
'On the opposite gunnel, to keep the boat from capsising. 

The period at which our last yarn was to be commenced (for we 
knew that the morrow's tide would set us afloat) found myself and 
friends all gathered together round the cuddy-stove as usual. 

The " Angel " bustled about with bottles of his master's very 
best strong waters ; the manillas were produced ; and, in addition, a 
small box of rare old havanas — never brought out except on grand 
occasions. A supper of unusual magnificence engaged our servants 
in its preparation ; extra lamps were lighted — in fact, everything that 
could either be thought of or obtained to add to our comfort and cele- 
brate a special event was forthcoming ; but then, it was the anniver- 
sary of the stanch Fortunas launch, which came but once a year, 
and our host was fond of making holiday ; therefore, let us eat, drink, 
yarn, and be merry. 

At least ten minutes before the appointed hour my friends had pro- 
ceeded to establish themselves in their accustomed places. Then I 
ascertained that they were impatient to hear my yarn, for I had pre- 
viously Informed them that It would be the narration of an important 

N 



194 The Log of the Fortuna. 



episode In my own life ; through which, indeed, was to be indirectly 
attributed my present trip to the East, and consequent acquaintance 
with themselves, only excepting Esmond, who had been a brother 
officer of mine during two different voyages. 

%h. p.m. 

No sooner had the echo of the Fortuna s silvery bell died away,, 
than I took the chair, "spliced the main-brace " (with some of the. 
skipper's best brew), and began to spin my own yarn. 



\ 



il .ii r . 



I f * 



,1 - :-' '^v'"' " 



iT.i^;. 




I'ifi' 



N 2 



Mv ®^^^ ®ai'"' 



THE BLACK PIRATE. 

A TALE OF THE SEA. 

" Come, Mister Mainstay," cried our captain, anxiously, " what do 
you make of her ? " 

" Well, sir," replied the chief officer, emphatically, lowering the spy- 
glass through which he had been gazing so long and deliberately as to 
make his superior impatient, " if it were not that pirate times are pretty 
well over, I should certainly say -that craft sailed under the black flag ! " 

" Here ! Mister L ," said the captain (suddenly addressing 

the reader's humble servant, the former narrator and present writer 
of this authentic narrative), " take the spy-glass, jump up aloft, and 
see w\\2it you can make out." 

I did so ; and, whilst ascending the rigging, may just as well make 
a fair start by explaining matters a little. 

The above dialogue took place on the quarter-deck of the East 
Indiaman Simoom, Captain George Ponsonby, R.N., Commander, 
carrying, besides four mates, forty-five petty officers and foremast 
hands, together with a complement of twenty-five passengers, nearly all 
of whom were ladies either going out to join their husbands or find 
them ; the East Indies then, as now, being a capital matrimonial 
market. We were a little over two months out from Gravesend, and 
the high land of the wild East coast of the Island of Madagascar was 
in sight, some ten or fifteen miles to leeward ; whilst, midway between 



198 



The Log of the Fortuna. 




THE STRANGE SAIL OFF MADAGASCAR. 



our vessel and the shore, was the strange sail, standing off towards us, 
which had excited the suspicion of our senior officers. 

I, the junior officer of that good ship — being no less a personage 
than the fourth mate — proceeded duly to establish myself in the mizen 
cross-trees, and keenly scrutinise the approaching stranger. 

Mr. Mainstay had judged by the cut of her sails, for she was yet 
too distant for her hull to be seen from our decks. I, however, from 
my elevated perch, soon made out that her build was long, low, and 
rakish. She was schooner-rigged, and displayed an immense spread 
of canvas. Altogether, this craft presented the proverbial pirate 
appearances. Quickly descending to the quarter-deck, I made known 
the result of my observation. The captain told me to send his steward 



The Black Pirate. 199 



to him, and, when that functionary arrived, he ordered him to bring on 
deck his own telescope — an instrument never produced but on rare 
occasions, being a very powerful and valuable one, and, more than 
all, having been presented to him by the late Duke of Wellington, 
in recognition of services rendered that great general during the bom- 
bardment of the castle of Scylla in the time of the Peninsular war. 
Slinging this to his back, our commander, accompanied by his chief 
officer, climbed aloft to the position which I had lately vacated. 

Of course, this proceeding — so unusual and portentous — attracted 
the attention of every one on board. All hands began clustering 
together in little groups, discussing the meaning of their superior's con- 
duct, and glancing anxiously from the two figures in the mizen cross- 
trees to the suspicious sail under our lee. As for the crew, the younger 
sailors — scenting the battle afar off, and eager for a brush — betrayed 
visible symptoms of fierce delight, and. seemed to Hke the prospect ; 
but the older salts, shading their wrinkled eyes with their horny hands, 
and gazing in a quiet, discriminating manner at the cause of the excite- 
ment, ominously shook their heads. I heard one old fellow thus rebuke 
a youngster capering about in great glee at the prospect of a fight — 

" Ay, ay, my hearty ! shuffle away with your pins ; you may be 
docked afore night. That 'ere craft carries a strong crew behind her 
bulwarks — or else call me a lubber ! 'Taint a collier's starboard watch 
as could handle them ' flying kites ' Q and square-cut sails o' hern." 

The passengers were in quite a flutter of excitement ; the most 
terrifying rumours were being circulated from one to the other, without, 
it may readily be believed, decreasing in colouring during the process. 

" Oh, Mister L ," cried a charming voice at my side, " do 

<:ome into the saloon and see Lady Murray ; she is so alarmed ! " 

(1) The light and lofty sails. 



200 The Log of the Portuna. 



Instantaneously closing my spy-glass, and turning to salute the 
fair owner of that well-known voice, I left the watching of the strange 
sail to other eyes, and accompanied her below. 

Lady Murray, surrounded by several other lady passengers, I 
found reclining upon the Transom sofas, having just revived from a 
fainting fit, into which the unguarded communication made by one of 
the gentlemen had thrown her. The delinquent, a rough and ruddy 
Irish colonel, proceeding to India to join his regiment in the old Com- 
pany's service, was standing by, doing his best to remedy the mistake ;. 
but I did not think much of his tact, for I heard him exclaiming— 

" Sure thin, my lady, don't be afraid ! Every man Jack of us will 
be kilt ten times over before any blackguard spalpeen of a pirate shall 
harm you, that we will ! Thin, you know, they don't make ladies ' walk 
the plank.' Ah, sure now, don't be after getting frightened, my dear 
madam ! Why, me with my elephant-gun, and my trusty sowar, 
Ako, with his keen tulwar, are enough to protect you from a whole 
regiment — I mane, squadron — of pirates." 

" Oh, Mister L ," cried Lady Murray, the moment she saw 

me enter the saloon, " pray tell us what is the matter ! What is that 
horrible ship in sight } Colonel O'Brien alarmed me by coming to 
say that it was a pirate." 

I strove to reassure her by truthfully enough declaring that the 
supposed evil character of the strange vessel was by no means certain ; 
that, even supposing our suspicions were confirmed, we were quite 
capable of defending ourselves. Defend ourselves ! Ay! for my part 
I felt determined enough to give any pirates a tough struggle who 
might venture to interfere with us and our lady passengers. That dear 
girl, her cheeks flushed, and her eyes sparkling with excitement, was 
watching me anxiously, and listening earnestly to all I said. 




VIEW IN THE INTEBIOR OF MADAGASCAB. 



The Black Pirate. 203 

As I turned to leave the saloon, forgetting her caution, she laid 
lier hand on my arm, exclaiming — • 

" Oh, Fred ! tell me ; is there any danger ? " 

" No, darling ! " I replied in a whisper, as Lady Murray, having 
noticed the act of her beautiful young companion (such was the position 
she held), cried — 

" Come, come, miss ! — let Mr. L return to his duty. 

Why, I verily believe that you are becoming more frightened than 
myself! It was only the sudden shock given by this awful Colonel 
O'Brien's abrupt communication that overpowered me. I am not a 
bit afraid now, Lucy." 

And the brave English gentlewoman stood up, her weak health, 
however, sadly belying her fearless expression, for she was deadly pale. 

As for poor Lucy, she blushed violently, fearing her secret had 
been guessed at ; then hid her confusion by embracing her friend and 
mistress with delightful tact. 

At this moment the shrill piping of our boatswain and his mates 
rang echoing through the ship, followed by the hoarse command — 

" All hands ahoy ! All hands lay aft on the quarter-deck ! " 

Pressing the hand of the beautiful girl unseen, and bidding the 
ladies have no fear, I rushed up the companion-ladder and gained the 
deck, leaving the fire-eating colonel shouting to his orderly — 

" Here, Ako, you rascal ! Be quick and unpack my elephant- 
^un and rifles." 

Ako placidly responded — " Ar-char, sahib ! " (Very good, sir). 

I found that the captain and chief officer had descended to the 
deck, and were awaiting the muster of the ship's company. As I made 
my appearance, I received an order to tell the steward to have some 
grog brought up ready to serve to all hands. This meant business. By 



204 The Log of the Fortuna. 

the time that I returned to the side of my superior officers all hands had 
assembled. Without loss of time the captain proceeded to address 
them : — 

" My lads," said he, " you all see that sail under our lee, and have 
no doubt remarked that, since she put out from the land at daylight, 
she has been bearing up for us, changing her course as we changed 
ours, and evidently dodging us from the time she hove in sight. 
Well, many of you have, perhaps, heard of the famous Black Pirate, (') 
supposed to cruise in these latitudes ; in my opinion it is no other 
than that craft now trying to overhaul us. Now, my lads, I 
never believed in the existence of that marauder before ; I never 
heard any authentic intelligence bearing on the fact, often as I have 
sailed these seas, probably because the motto of the scoundrels 
chasing us is, ' Dead men tell no tales.' This alone will be enough 
to make us defend our vessel to the last, for no quarter can be 
expected from the pirates. They are, no doubt, a mixed scum of 
all nations, very likely largely composed of blacks from the land in 
sight. Now, men, will you let a horde like that capture our ship, or 
will you stand by me like true British seamen ? " 

For a moment the perfect silence with which our crew had 
listened to their captain's speech reigned unbroken ; then the 
stalwart old boatswain rushed to the front, forgetting his rigid 
discipline, and cried — 

" Come, my hearties, three cheers for Captain Ponsonby, and 
down with the pirates ! " 

Frantically waving his cap, whilst his silvered locks were tossing 
in the wind, the immediate controller of the crew led off a round 

Q) This was a famous pirate, some years ago, who became the terror of the Indiaix 
Ocean. 



The Black Pirate. 205 



of such cheering as never came from the throats of any but English 
sailors. Then, pipe of silver in hand, and followed by his two mates, 
he moved to the side of his officers, awaiting orders. 

A proud smile came athwart the bronzed features of our captain; 
a bright flash sparkled in his eyes. He glanced upon those strong and 
hardy seamen, so ready to execute his slightest will, then cast a look 
upon the strange sail under our lee, and I knew that he felt strongly 
moved to bear down and engage her. 

" Thank you, my men ! thank you ! " he cried. " I knew that 
one and all would stand by me. No pirate shall hold these decks 
while two planks stick together and a man Is left to tread them ! " 

Orders were now given to clear the decks and prepare for action, 
a work our tars proceeded to execute with alacrity. 

" Mister Mainstay," said the captain, suddenly, " do you think 
that it would be possible to get at those government guns amongst 
the cargo ? " 

"' Yes, I almost think so, sir," replied the chief officer, " but I 
will see what the second mate says." 

The latter was sent for, and the captain continued — 

" You see, it is very likely that craft may carry a * Long Tom ' 
amidships, and, if so, by keeping on and off, and playing at long 
bowls, she could easily knock us to pieces whilst herself keeping 
safely out of range of our carronades." 

" That's a fact, sir," responded the mate. " And nearly all these 
small craft — ^letter of marque, pirate, or war vessel— carry one heavy 
pivot gun, to make up the weight of metal they are not large enough 
to carry on the broadside." 

" Just so. Mister Mainstay ; and If we could only get up one 
of those 'long thirty-twos' destined for the fort at Calcutta, it 



2o6 The Log of the Fortuna. 

would be easy to rig it up amidships on the spindle of the after deck 
capstan; then we should be a match for her," 

The second officer now came up, and, in reply to the captain's 
inquiry, declared there would be no difficulty in getting one of the 
guns in question, which were all stowed under the main hatchway. 

As soon as the decks were cleared, the guns cast loose, shot and 
shell handed up, the arm-racks filled, and everything made ready for 
action, the starboard watch was placed under the second mate's 
orders to break out the cargo and get up one of the guns in the hold. 

From early morning, when the strange sail first hove in sight, 
we had been bowling along at the rate of seven knots an hour on 
a taut bowline ; but, since the tropical sun had exerted its powerful 
rays, the wind had gradually fallen,. so that now, shortly before noon, 
the speed of our vessel had become considerably reduced. This 
was soon made evident, for, though dead under our lee, she was 
rapidly diminishing the distance that separated us. 

By the time that the " long thirty- two " had been hoisted up out 
of the hold, the hull of the pirate was plainly visible from our decks, 
and there no longer existed a doubt as to her character. By the aid of 
our glasses Ave could discern that not only was her hull of a uniform, 
unrelieved black, but that her spars and yards were also of the same 
sombre hue ; these were the well-known characteristics described 
as pertaining to what every one on board had hitherto considered the 
mythical " Black Pirate." All hands were now becoming unpleasantly 
and optically convinced that the ambiguous reports were not so much 
without foundation as, perhaps, they had fondly imagined. Still, I do 
not believe that a man on board felt the slightest fear. It generally 
takes a good deal to frighten a sailor — especially a true British one — 
and our crew consisted entirely of Englishmen — a thing it would be 



The Black Pirate. 207 

impossible to find now-a-days, since the Indiamen of the old Honour- 
able East India Company's service have become a tale of the past, 
and every merchantman carries a large proportion of foreigners on 
her articles. 

Very fortunately, upon unshipping the after-deck capstan, we 
found that, by the help of a few wedges, the iron spindle would just 
fit into the carriage of the long gun, and so serve as its pivot — all the 
guns on freight being arranged upon the swivel principle, with frame 
and sliding-carriage to match, so that they each could sweep a com- 
plete circle. It was still more fortunate that out of our armament 
of ten carronades four were thirty-twos, the rest being eighteen 
pounders ; thus we were not without proper fitting ammunition for 
our impromptu " Long Tom." 

The suspicious-looking schooner was now within six or seven 
miles. We had just finished rigging the gun amidships, when she 
executed a manoeuvre that would at once have dispersed any lingering 
doubt we might have entertained as to her intentions. Suddenly 
taking in all her square sails, she hauled right up in the wind's eye, 
laying a good three points nearer than we could, under a cloud of 
fore and aft canvas. No peaceful trader, and few men-of-war, ever 
spread such sails ; for she carried immense stay-sails on every stay, 
besides taunt- rigged gaff- topsails above her huge mainsail and fore-and- 
aft foresail, with a large ringtail projecting beyond her mainsail, and a 
great jib- topsail bellying above her head-sails. Hitherto she had only 
been gradually closing with us through steering towards the same point 
as ourselves, her rig enabling her to lay a point or so nearer the wind 
than we could ; whereas, a similar vessel to our own would have been 
running on a precisely parallel course, without getting any nearer- 
But now, with nothing but fore-and-aft sail set — and set, too, with 



2o8 The Log of the Fortuna. 

the sheets hauled close aft, flat as boards — she bore up for us on 
a much more oblique angle, which threatened soon to bring the 
vessels close together. UpOn seeing this manoeuvre. Captain Pon- 
sonby held a consultation with his officers, at which I was present, and 
stated his views to the following effect : — 

"■ Gentlemen," said he, " it is quite evident that if the wind lasts 
.and does not increase, our pursuer will overhaul us some time before 
dusk, providing we hold our present course. Now, I do not at all 
like the idea of running from an enemy ; but this is not a king's ship, 
and our first duty is to care for her safety, as well as for that of cargo 
and passengers. Still, if you should think that anything is to be 
gained by meeting the pirate — who evidently means to attack us — I 
am quite prepared to bear down and engage her. But if you agree 
with me, that our first duty is to try and avoid an encounter, then we 
will put the ship before the wind (her best sailing point). We are 
fully forty miles from the land, and, this part of the coast being 
marked on the chart as free from dangers, we might run close in. 
We should thus stand a good chance of being able to evade our 
pursuer during the night, supposing the change of course enabled us 
to keep ahead." 

We all agreed with our captain that " Defence, not Defiance " 
was our duty ; also, that it would be highly advisable to try the 
change of sailing he rightly recommended. It is true, both I and 
the third mate were rather in favour of turning upon the pirate and 
attacking him, but we could not find fault with our experienced com- 
mander's sound judgment. 

The course was altered. The bowlines were let go ; the sheets 
and tacks eased off; and the yards trimmed for running with the 
wind a point or two abaft the beam. This enabled us to have not 



The Black Pirate. 209 



only the benefit of all fore-and-aft sail, but also studding-sails on the 
weather side. The effect was soon perceptible. The speed of our 
vessel visibly increased ; the straining, unpleasant motion of being 
close-hauled changed to the easy, rolling, and unchecked movement 
of running free before the wind. With snowy stun' -sails alow and 
aloft, projecting far beyond each weather yard-arm, with every stay- 
sail set that would draw, with sail crowded on even to the three lofty 
sky-sails and royal stun'-sails, for some time we seemed to hold our 
own in the race. But our wary pursuers, finding that by this means 
we should probably sail far beyond the line on which they had hoped 
to intercept us (because, instead of edging along it, we had changed 
our course, and ran direct to cross it), changed their tactics too, and 
put before the wind, though not to the extent we had, setting their 
square sails again, and doing their utmost to overhaul us. We knew 
that the change in our course would enable the pirate to gain the 
weather-gage, and get to windward of us, so as to hem us in between 
himself and the land ; but we did not care for this so long as it 
afforded the prospect of keeping clear of him till nightfall. 

Alas ! for our hopes. Still fell the wind, and every moment 
brought the enemy nearer and nearer. At length, flap went our 
outrigged stun'-sails, with that sullen sound so suggestive of 
approaching calm — at least, suggestive to the ear nautical. Our 
captain, who was standing by the quartermaster carefully conning the 
steering, gave a hasty glance aloft at the shaking canvas, then turned 
to his first officer and calmly said — 

" Prepare for action, Mr. Mainstay, and have everything ready 
to shorten sail, to get those ' flying kites ' out of the way, as soon as 
the enemy get us within range." 

The order was promptly executed. The guns were all loaded 

o 



210 The Log of- the Fortuna. 

with solid shot, the gunner, who had served in the same capacity in 
a king's ship with our captain, taking particular care with the loading 
of the " long thirty-two " we had rigged amidships, himself fitting a 
rope grummet over the shot, and ramming it home with extra force. 
The sailmaker and his mates placed in convenient places stoppers for 
splicing temporarily any important rope that might be shot away, 
whilst the carpenter's crew got ready plugs for stopping shot-holes, 
as well as spars for fishing any mast that might get seriously injured. 
Cutlasses and pistols were buckled on by the seamen, a select party 
of marksmen being armed with musket and bayonet and placed under 
the orders of Colonel O'Brien, who volunteered his services. The 
surgeon took up his quarters, and made his preparations for the 
wounded, in our ward-room, being, moreover, assisted by a clerical 
passenger, as also by Lady Murray and a strong-minded gentle- 
woman. The rest of the ladies were made as comfortable as possible 
in the after hold, where they were below the water-line, and safely 
but of range of the enemy's fire. All the remaining gentlemen, 
to the number of six, including the colonel, preferred to join in 
defence of the ship. As they were mostly military men, and had 
rifles of their own, they formed a valuable addition to the colonel's 
small marine force. The ropes of the running-gear, connected with the 
stun'-sails and other light canvas, were carefully coiled on deck in 
*' Flemish coils," all ready for letting go, and so that no hitch might 
take place through a kink in a rope whilst shortening sail. The 
■crew were then told off into two parts— one division to work the big 
guns ; the other, to work the ship and act as small-arm men, as boarders, 
or however necessary. The party of marines belonged to this latter 
body, and those of them who were seamen were stationed in the 
mizen, main, and fore-tops, with a plentiful supply of ammunition. 



The Black Pirate. 211 

The pirate was now almost within range, and he proved it by 
suddenly luffing up, firing upon us, and hoisting his colours. The 
gun fired was a " Long Tom," amidships, as our captain had expected. 
Any fiarther- doubts that might have been entertained by any one on 
board were now effectually set at rest, for, from the changed position 
of our pursuer, we saw the black flag run up at the same moment we 
were fired upon. The shot fell far astern, but It warned us that in a 
little while we should be under fire. 

Being immediately under the captain's commands, I received 
Ills order to hoist our colours, and the red ensign of old England was 
soon fluttering from our peak. We did not think of replying to the 
pirate's shot, preferring to wait until our answer would be of some 
effect ; but as that well-known flag shook Its red folds above us, 
there burst from our crew so hearty and simultaneous a cheer as 
must have reached even to where the pirates followed nearly in 
our wake. 

Plop, Jiapy went the canvas overhead, and the sails hung 
drooping from the yards. The concussion from that gun seemed 
to have stilled the last breath of air. For some little time both 
vessels lay perfectly becalmed. Not the gentlest zephyr came to 
juffle the glassy smoothness of the sea; still the never-quiet waters 
moved heaving up and down In long and regular throbs, like the 
lieavy respirations of some gigantic living thing, and every heave sent 
the useless canvas flapping heavily against the masts. Prudence 
would have told us to be glad at this, for evening was approaching, 
and if the calm lasted till dark it would prevent the pirate closing 
with us, whilst also giving us the chance to evade him by the aid of 
any breeze that might spring up during the night. But even this 
was not to be. Ere long we noticed a strange splashing of the water 

o 2 



212 The Log of the Fortvna. 

on either side of our enemy. Upon using our glasses, we discovered 
that this appearance was due to the pirate having put out long sweeps 
with which to propel himself forward. Here was a cause for alarm, 
as the scoundrels would be able to choose their own position, attack 
us how they pleased — even in directions upon which we could not 
bring a gun to bear — and, in fact, be able to manoeuvre round and 
about us at discretion. It was a nasty fix to be in, and every one 
would not have known how to better the position ; but our captain 
was equal to the difficulty. Ordering a couple of boats to be lowered, 
he gave the chief officer instructions to prepare a drag by tossing a 
spare topmast overboard, towing it a good distance ahead of the ship, 
then fixing it by fastening to it a sail spread out and sunk by heavy 
weights suspended to its lower parts, the contrivance being made 
serviceable to swing the ship either way by bending- on a couple of 
stout ropes to its centre, and bringing their other ends on board, one 
on the starboard, the other on the port quarter, where they would 
act as springs. 

Within an hour the pirate had come so near that we could 
plainly see her decks were crowded with men. We could also hear 
the whooping and shouting of those encouraging themselves at the 
sweeps. The sun, setting unusually red in a crimson-tinted sky, 
was right in her wake, so that her black hull and spars seemed 
to us blacker still ; whilst even her sails, throwing their dark shadow 
between us and the sun, appeared of the same inky hue, and the 
long, projecting sweeps moved forv/ard and backward like the ugly 
black legs of some monstrous multipede. As she came on thus, 
thrown out black, huge, and sinister against the blood-red background 
of the crimson sunset, she seemed to present a perfectly diabolical 
appearance, and this was made still more terrible when the fierce,. 



The Black Pirate, 2.12, 

iiend-like yelling of her pirate crew rang echoing through the sur- 
rounding silence of the still night air. 

All day long the barometer had been rapidly falling, and the 
weather, though fine, had yet presented strange and unsettled 
symptoms, sufficiently ominous to the mariner who knew himself 
to be within the Mauritius hurricane zone, and that, too, just at the 
worst season. The storm was evidently brewing, and about to burst 
forth as the sun went down; the preceding temporary calm being an 
ordinary feature. The pirates seemed aware of this, and exerted all 
their energies to close with us before the tempest came to stay their 
plundering propensities. 

On came that black, weird-looking schooner. We could now 
hear the creaking and jolting of the heavy sweeps as the pirate crew 
swayed to and fro at them with united strength and determination. 
Nearer and louder sounded their fierce yelling ; and they seemed to 
be working themselves into a state of frenzy for the attack. They 
were now right under our stern, and steering straight for that part of 
our vessel ; thinking, no doubt, to run us aboard in that defenceless 
position, when we would not be able to bring a gun to bear upon 
them. They were not aware of the means we had taken to meet 
this mode of attack. Closer and closer came our merciless assailants, 
till at length they were within fifty yards, when suddenly, ceasing to 
pull with their starboard sweeps, they brought their port broadside to 
bear, and poured into our stern a heavy raking fire. A perfect 
silence reigned fore and aft the decks of our vessel ; but every man 
was at his post — every hand ready and willing to meet the foe ! 
Our captain had seen the enemy's manoeuvre, and met it by ordering 
his crew to throw themselves flat on deck; by which means they 
escaped the missiles of that first broadside, every shot passing 



214 The Loo of the Fortuna. 

harmless overhead or through the rigging, save two or three that 
crashed tearing into the woodwork of our stern, but did no further 
mischief than frighten the poor ladies down below. The wild shouts 
and yells of the pirate crew formed a striking contrast to the steady 
silence of our own ; and, when they had lessened the distance between 
us by another thirty yards, this seemed to Impress them; for their 
furious whooping subsided into a confused Babel of voices as they 
ceased pulling, sheered their vessel across our stern again, and poured 
in their starboard broadside. They were now so close that, being 
themselves low in the water, nearly the whole of the grape and 
canister they this time saluted us with flew overhead, though the 
loud rattle made by such of the 77titraille as lodged about the stern 
and quarters must have terribly alarmed the ladies again. The 
discharge was not quite so harmless as the last, for two of our mea 
were hit with grape-shot, one of them being badly, if not mortally,, 
wounded. 

The moment for which our captain waited had now arrived. 

" Haul away, my lads ! Haul away with a will," he said to the 
men standing ready with that rope in their hands which had been led 
on board to the starboard quarter. 

No second command was needed, for it was stamp and go with 
the men, and, as they stamped forward along the deck, firmly holding 
the rope, the ship was slowly swung round, and the port broadside 
brought to bear upon the astounded pirates. 

Springing to the mizen rigging, our captain cried through his. 
speaking trumpet — 

" Are you ready, there, at the guns ?" 

" All ready, sir," came promptly from each gunner, waitings 
match in hand. 



The Black Pirate. 215 



" Then fire ! " shouted the captain. 

And a terrible broadside swept the decks of the pirate, as we 
knew by the cries and groans that instantly arose. Every gun had 
been double-shotted with an extra grape and canister charge on 
top of a solid shot, and, our ship standing high out of the water, we 
were consequently enabled to command and sweep the low decks of 
the pirate, lying open and exposed to our fire. 

The sharp rattle of musketry mingled with the deafening roar 
of the cannonade, for our small-arm men poured in volley after volley, 
being loudly encouraged by their commander, the Irish colonel, who 
became very Hibernian when excited. The pirates were not yet 
daunted; and, while some of them kept up a heavy but ill-directed 
reply to our fusllade, others manned their sweeps again, and pulled 
forward to try and board us. This we were bound to prevent, for 
the schooner was full of men, whose overwhelming numbers would 
soon be able to vanquish us, if once they succeeded in gaining our 
decks. 

Hauling away upon the port drag-rope, we brought our starboard- 
broadside to bear just as the pirate's prow was almost touching our 
bulwarks. The whole fore-part of the schooner was crowded with 
men ready to board. 

The sun had now for some little time vanished below the western 
horizon, and the brief tropical twilight was already merging into the 
darkness of night, save for the deep red glow still radiating in the 
west. This ruddy sky being immediately behind the pirates, and 
there being so little daylight left, shed upon them a deeper, more 
blood-stained reflection than before. Now that she was close upon 
us, the whole fabric of the schooner stood out sharp and Intensely 
black against the redly glimmering light behind. Her whole aspect 



2i6 The Log of the Fortuna. 

was terrible and supernatural ; the black figures of her crew clustering 
together in the bows, brandishing their arms, and leaping about, were 
more like fiends than men; their terrific yelling, in many a barbarous 
tongue, considerably strengthening the resemblance. The noise of 
the fray, the ceaseless sharp cracking of the musketry, the crashing 
roar of the cannon, the subdued groaning of the wounded and mangled, 
together with the yelling of the pirates and the hearty cheering of our 
own men, made a most hideous din — a frightful conflict of sound ; 
whilst the incessant flashing of the small-arms, the great sheets of 
fiame vomited forth by the cannon, and the fiery, sulphurous-smelling 
clouds of smoke occasionally enveloping both vessels, always twisting 
and wreathing about their rigging, gave the finishing accessories to 
the whole infernal scene. 

On, then, came the pirate vessel, till her stem was close aboard 
us ! But at that moment — when the savage wretches, clustering 
forward, were stringing their nerves to spring upon our decks — crash 
among them went the iron hail of our starboard broadside. The 
slauo-hter must have been frio-htful. Nothing could stand before the 
hurtling tem^pest of that terrible discharge, delivered with the muzzles 
of the guns almost touching the living objects in their front. For a 
moment or two the smoke obscured our view, but when it cleared 
away we saw that the lately crowded bows of the enemy were now 
empty, save where a dark and wide-spread heap lay still and prone 
upon the deck. But one form yet remained upright in the ghastly 
space our broadside had cleared, and the flash of a volley from our 
main-top showed me the blood-stained face. It was that of a huge^ 
red-haired giant, so dressed that I knew him to be the captain of the 
pirates. He shook his fist menacingly towards us, then sprang from 
Jiis exposed position, and, as he went aft, we could hear him ordering 




^••<^:::i juljiiii!Jmililiiiiiiiliii::i;iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin imiii lili nlmiiliiiiliiiliiiiLiiliiill liii iihliliillul:iiiriinln 



The Black Pirate. 219 

his men in English to " back water " with their sweeps, so as to get 
away from us. 

At this moment we were suddenly enlightened as to the state of 
the weather (which had been altogether neglected during the heat of 
the battle), by the bursting upon us of a sharp squall. 

On looking around, we found that a heavy, arch-shaped, black 
cloud was just spreading above us, from which the huge rain-drops 
fell pattering slowly and loudly on the decks. We could hear the 
rushing, hissing noise of the wind tearing over the waters in the 
distance ; but, before a rope could be started, right out from that 
sharply-defined cloud-arch the squall flew upon us. Crack, crack,, 
went all our stun'-sail booms, each one snapping with a report like: 
that of a gun. It was fortunate that the wind struck us from astern,, 
sending us scudding before it, or more serious damage would have 
happened. 

*' Sky-sail, royal, and ta -gallant halyards, let go!" roared our 
captain, as the gale came down ; and, in obedience to his prompt 
commands, the ship was soon under easy sail. 

Just then the pirates, having also shortened sail and made their 
vessel snug, ranged up and gave us a parting broadside. I felt a 
tremendous shock — a sharp and stunning blow — then fell senseless 
on the deck, my last thought being that a round-shot had taken off 
my head ! 

I knew not how long a time had elapsed, but, when I came to 
my senses again, I found myself suffering from a frightful headache ; 
found, too, that I was lying, comfortably put to bed, in one of the 
vacant saloon state-rooms. I did not at first open my eyes, being 
almost afraid to do so, as I fully expected to find some important part 
of my body missing. At length, however, a long sigh, breathed 



220 The Log of the Portuna. 

close at hand, caused me to look up. Then the first thing that I saw, 
when my eyes opened again upon the world, was Lucy's fair face 
bending over me — love, grief, and anxiety all depicted on her beauti- 
ful features, and showing through the crystal tears that filled her 
streaming eyes. It was daylight, so I had been insensible a con- 
siderable time, and I could see Lady Murray sitting composedly 
readino- in one corner of the little state-room. With a Sfreat effort 
I stretched forth one of my hands, grasped Lucy's white neck, and 
drew her lips to mine; for I knew not yet whether I should live or 
•die, and, if the latter, determined to have at least one kiss before 
giving up the ghost — " kicking the bucket," I should have said, being 
a sailor. This proceeding brought back the colour to my darling's 
pale face, and, overjoyed at my recovery, she cried — 

** Oh, Lady Murray, Fred is conscious again ! Will he get well ?" 

"Why, of course, you foolish child !" said that lady, in so re- 
assuring a tone of voice as to prove quite refreshing to me, and 
make me at once use my hands to feel how much there might be left 
■of my former proportions. 

" There is not anything the matter with him," continued that 
grateful voice of reassurance. "He has only received a— a — what did 
the doctor call it ? — oh ! a splinter wound and severe contusion. So 
do not alarm yourself, Lucy. He will be well in a day or two ; and 
when we get to Calcutta I shall have the pleasure of accompanying 
'you both to church the first fine morning before twelve o'clock." 

This was doubly satisfactory to me. The course of our true 
love was to run smooth, I calmly reflected, despite the pain in my 
injured head; and she, who we had feared would prove an obstacle, was 
•actually ready to arrange the match. I began to feel pretty well 
^satisfied with the world in general — pirates included, for they had 



The Black Pirate. 221 

evidently brought about the denouement that we were wont to- 
dread. My head was still upon my shoulders : the girl I loved 
was being bestowed upon me ex tempore by the party holding^ 
authority to do so. I felt a hero. Like a hero, too, receiving. 
the award of merit. 

I began to think that I had in some way greatly distinguished 
myself during the engagement, though I could not remember how. 
The world, I reflected, whilst lying flat upon the broad of my Anglo- 
Saxon back, surveying things in a comfortable, dreamy, satisfied sort 
of way, was just beginning to appreciate my worth ; but, confound it! 
reflection increased the headache, so I gave it up, and merely squeezed 
Lucy's soft warm hand. 

" Yes," continued Lady Murray, " now I know your secret, you 
sly puss ! I shall take care to see that you are both made happy. 
Your father gave you entirely into my charge, and I shall use my 
authority in a way that will please you, and, I have no doubt, satisfy 
him, for you might do worse. Mister L is a " 

But what flattering epithets were to be lavished upon me I 
know not, for Lucy, taking one of her burning hands from mine,, 
placed it over the mouth of her kind-hearted mistress, who, I ascer- 
tained, had found out the state of our affections through the grief 
shown by her young companion when I had been carried below 
wounded. As for the injuries I had received, they were but trifling, 
and I often rejoiced in them, for had they not brought about the 
sanctioning of our attachment } 

I inquired after the " Black Pirate," but the ladies could only 
tell me that nothing had been seen of her after the engagement, and 
that it was believed she had gone down shortly afterwards. At all 
events, upon gazing shoreward through my cabin-port, not a sail or 



222 



The Log of the Fortuna. 




THE LAST HEADLAND. 



-vestige of a vessel was In sight, and I only saw the last headland of 
Madagascar fast sinking out of view under our lee. 

During several days I was confined to my cabin, and then felt loath 
to leave it, and so lose Lucy's tender nursing. However, whilst lying 
there, I may as well state how I became attached to that dear girl. 

She did not come on board as a stranger, for I had, singularly 
•enough, seen her twice before. On the first occasion, she had 
attracted my attention one night at the opera, when I could do 
nothing but gaze on her exquisite beauty, totally oblivious of the 
■claims upon my attention, which should have been bestowed on the 
unfortunate sisters in my party. In fact, my gentle- tempered youngest 
sister, as we were leaving, was driven to ask in a spiteful manner, 



The Black Pirate. 223 



■" When do you go to sea again, Fred ?" And she said it, too, as 
though mentally exclaiming, " I trust it may be soon !" 

Upon encountering Lucy a second time, I was more fortunate. 
Two or three days before the Simoom was ready for sea I determined 
to run down to Woodford, and say good-bye to an uncle living there. 
My relative was a crusty old fellow, and the leave-taking did not 
occupy much time. I had just reached the high road, when, upon 
coming within sight of the old " Green Man," I saw the four-horse, 
scarlet-painted mail-coach drive up to the door amidst a cloud of 
dust. A female figure alighted therefrom, and came walking towards 
me on the High Beach road. At first, in the distance, I could not 
tell whether she were young or old, plain or pretty ; nevertheless, a 
strange sensation seemed to thrill my nerves even at the very moment 
when first my eyes rested upon her. Perhaps believers in animal 
magnetism can explain it, I cannot. I wonder whether the electro- 
biologists can ? 

Nearer she came, yet nearer. An unaccountable hesitation 
seemed to possess me. I felt a strange attraction to that advancing 
form. My first distinct impression was of a bright ray of sunshine 
reflected from a glittering golden curl. She had now approached so 
near, that I could discern her features. I recognised them instantly, 
and felt as I had never done but once before — as I had never felt in 
the presence of any woman but herself That mysterious spell, the 
power of beauty and an innate sympathy, held me with its resistless 
fetters. 

We men have nearly all, I suppose, at some period of our lives, 
pictured to ourselves our ideal Venus : well, mine was before me. There 
glided the fairy form hitherto worshipped in my nightly visions and 
daily dreams. No longer an impalpable shadow, but a veritable 



224 The Log of the Fortuna. 



mortal of flesh and blood, filled with the same warm life and sen- 
sibility as myself — a being one could love, adore, and, more than all, 
be loved by in return ! Oh, how my heart yearned towards thee, 
my lovely Lucy, even as we saw each other for the second time 
in our lives ! 

As the fair girl whose beauty had so powerfully attracted me at 
the opera now passed me on the road, she noticed my earnest gaze, 
and started, as she probably recognised the rude fellow whose per- 
tinacious staring had disconcerted her on the former occasion. Averting 
her head, she walked quickly away, as though I frightened and might 
insult her. Good heavens ! I could not have found sufficient boldness 
to accost her even had it been to save my life. I, the reckless young 
sailor, usually so well at my ease with the fair sex, stood abashed and 
speechless. Timid and hesitating, I remained watching her receding 
figure, undecided whether to turn and follow, or pass on and lose her, 
perhaps for ever. Furtively I glanced around, fearful lest the prying 
eye of some curious stranger might detect me, an inquisition from 
which I shrank with extreme aversion. My apprehensions were, 
however, quite groundless. Not a soul was in sight to mark or 
ridicule my conduct. That beauteous form was fast receding In 
the distance. I could never have found courage enough to turn and 
follow, but the mystic cord that bound me to her began to tug at my 
heart-strings, and, mechanically as It were, I commenced retracing 
my steps. As I walked along, she once turned her head and saw 
me, then, I fancied, quickened her pace In order to avoid me. Shortly 
afterwards, round a bend in the road, we came upon a neat little 
cottage nestling amidst the foliage of a flourishing garden ; an Instinc- 
tive perception told me that it was the destination of her I followed. 
Sure enough, she raised the latch of the garden-gate and vanished 



The Black Pirate. 225 



within the flower-covered portico. My heart beat with gratification. 
I had, at all events, ascertained either the residence of her to whom 
fate had attracted me, or that of some of her friends. 

The surrounding country was uncultivated forest land, and 
all the rest of that afternoon, from my hiding-place among the 
brambles, the waving heather, and the sweet-smelling wild flowers 
I kept strict watch upon the door of the cottage. I knew that I had 
missed the coach to London, but what cared I, so long as it gave me 
the chance of meetinsf that beautiful orirl agfain ? It became dusk, 
and I was obliged to find a nearer spot from whence to continue my 
vigil. The road was very lonely. I began to think that perhaps robbers 
might attack the cottage during the night. I did not, at the time, 
perceive the absurdity of the idea — fixing upon that night, when 
thieves had never yet thought it worth their while to molest the 
retired abode, long as it had stood. Still, as the hours sped and 
it grew darker, I began to fancy every shadow a stealthy burglar. 
How I hoped that such might prove the case, in order to give me 
the opportunity of introducing myself, and the satisfaction of saving 
her from danger ! I could no longer rest in the place I had chosen. 
Starting up, I moved towards the cottage, noticing as I did so that 
lights were gleaming through the half-closed shutters of a room on 
the ground-floor. In a moment I was gliding to the spot. Had 
any burglars been about, they would certainly have claimed me for 
one of their choice fraternity, as with cautious step I stole silently 
towards the windows. Upon getting within the shadow of the walls, 
I crept up to the nearest panes, and eagerly peered through. 

How delightful were my sensations during the next few moments! 
I gazed at the beautiful maiden with an absorbing interest. Unseen, 
alone, perfectly at my ease, I studied her every movement with the 

p 



226 The Log of the Fortuna. 

keen, fresh pleasure one feels in scanning for the first time some 
glorious work of nature. 

Four persons were seated around the parlour-table. One of 
them — at a glance I saw he was the father of my charmer — was 
reading prayers to the others. Lucy's mother sat by his side, whilst 
she herself was immediately facing me. ^ A servant made up the 
party. For the first time during many months, if not years, I really 
felt in a proper state of mind to pray : I longed to join that simple, 
honest, happy circle. Prayers being ended, I had the satisfaction 
to hear the old man say to his daughter — 

" Fetch me the paint and brush, my darling ; the coach starts 
at eight in the morning, so I had better finish addressing your 
luggage to-night." 

So she was to return to town in the morning : by the same con- 
veyance, too ! The work of addressing her trunks made me gaze on 
with redoubled interest. An extraordinary coincidence was about 
to happen — a far stranger event than the fact of my meeting that 
fair girl a second time by accident. The last box was nearest to 
the window, and, to my intense amazement, I plainly saw the old 
man paint the name of my ship. 

Yes, there it was, as plain as large white letters could make it — 
Simoom ! 

The rest I could not make out, but imagination supplied the 
missing link ; those smaller letters could never be anything else than 
" Passenger per." 

Just then the servant came to fasten up the windows, and I was 
forced to beat a rapid retreat. All night long, heated with excite- 
ment and worrying myself with innumerable conjectures, from my 
leafy covert I lay watching the cottage, and only dozed off for a 



The Black Pirate. 227 

few minutes before daylight ; but then I indulged in innumerable 
cheroots. And when that sun arose, how bright, how beautiful, how 
happy all creation seemed in its resplendent rays ! Ah, it was 
indeed a happy day for me — the commencement of my new life. I 
thought of fifty different ways to introduce myself to her I so 
patiently awaited; but my boldness had vanished, utterly vanished, 
and I could not make up my mind how in the world to act. Of one 
thing, however, I was determined — not to miss her ; no matter where 
she might go, I would follow, and make her acquaintance. 

It is needless to describe how impatiently I awaited the coming 
forth of my fair one. However, time is fleeting, as all the world 
knows to its sorrow ; and though it may seem long to wait for a 
thing we ardently desire, when it has come and passed, then how 
short we think its duration ! So Lucy at length appeared with her 
father, and, while a light cart took forward her luggage, she walked 
with him in the direction of the " Green Man " — the coach post- 
house, I saw that her eyes were tearful, and knew that she had had 
a sorrowful parting with her mother ; but then it did not make 7ne 
sorry : rather the reverse, for it encouraged the belief that she must 
be bound on a long journey, and I thought of the Simoom painted on 
her boxes. Was she really one of our passengers } 

Not wishing to be seen in my unwashed state, I made a dHour 
to avoid them, and ran for the hotel, getting there long before they 
did, making myself tidy, and snatching a rather hasty breakfast 
before the coach was ready to start. I found that we were the only 
passengers from Woodford, yet I bit my lips upon feeling too bashful 
to go inside with her, and then sullenly took an outside place. 
Several times, just before the coach was ready to start, I had been 
quite near her, and fancied that her look, when she recognised me 

p 2 



228 The Log of the Fortuna. 

again, partook as much of satisfaction as surprise. Vanity is natural 
to every human being, from the South Sea Islander who takes deHght 
in a huge fishbone-ring through the nose, or the Chinese beauty who 
cripples her feet, to the London belle who deforms her waist — and 
all like to be admired. Admiration was plainly expressed in my 
gaze. I could notice that every now and then she gave sly little 
glances at me, taking care, as she thought, that neither I nor her 
father should observe them. After all, I was not such a bad-looking 
fellow in my fourth mate's uniform ; but she may have had an idea 
that I had been to Woodford upon the same errand as herself — to 
bid my friends good-bye — and such being the case, her curiosity may 
have been aroused as to whether I belonged to the Simoom. 

After a painful parting with her father, she entered the coach,, 
and we were off. From my place on the front seat I was much 
gratified to find that I could fairly survey, through a convenient little 
ventilator, the sweet features of the solitary inside passenger. 

She was very, very beautiful. The heavy masses of her pure 
golden hair waved and twined in rich and wonderful profusion 
around her small, straight brow. So luxuriant were these glorious- 
tresses, that there seemed a difficulty in confining them within reason- 
able limits, as was denoted by the massive natural braids drawn sO' 
closely and tightly together — oh, ye unfortunate damsels whom cruel 
fate has driven to take refuge in the help of chignon ! Crisp little 
curls of a golden fringe clustered along her forehead and over the 
delicate little ears, and the same rippling wave extended the whole 
length of her beautiful hair. Who can describe the glorious colour 
of those splendid tresses ? Her head seemed bound with a coronet 
of living, serpentine gold, and this gave that faint golden tinge which 
makes the pink and white complexion of such fair-haired women so 



The Black Pirate. 229 

exquisite. Deepest blue, violet, grey, those large, almond-shaped 
eyes took sometimes one hue, sometimes the other. Those mirrors 
of the soul, how I delight to gaze into their bright, living, mystifying 
depths ! The pupils of those magical orbs were large — unusually 
large — and dilated with the least excitement ; such eyes talk, they do 
not look. The lashes were long and drooping, and it was strange 
what expressiveness dwelt in the almost black eyebrows, that were 
ever moving, ever varying, ever telling of the emotions. Features 
so regular, so purely Grecian, I had never before seen. Her face 
was a perfect oval, and the small, straight nose was of the most 
delicate and sensitive chiseling. Those lips beneath ! those warm, 
ruby, luscious lips, contracting or unfolding with every phase of 
feeling, and both so exquisitely carved, so small — yet full and large 
enough — so sweet, and only parting to show such tiny pearly teeth, 
set in such pretty pink coral ! It was really sinful to think that mouth 

was made for aught but angels' kisses ! 

» * * * * * 

** There ! For gracious sake turn away your head, Lucy, and do 
not sit watching me as I write ; it will make * my own yarn' a rhapsody, 
instead of the true and faithful narration of hjw we met, and how the 
adventure with the ' Black Pirate ' brou^nt about the settlement of 
our attachment," I have just been forced to exclaim, pushing back my 
papers as that fair face came provokingly near, and the little figure 

bent over me in all its undulating gracefulness. 

****** 

Well, to resume the thread of my story, and get back to where 

we left off in the cabin of the Fortuna. 

****** 

I was congratulating myself on the capital position I had 



230 The Log of the Fortuna. 



obtained, and wondering how to find an opportunity of addressing; 
her whom I was watching, when, with a sudden crash, over went the 
coach, and I found myself flying through the air Hke a sky-rocket — 
only, however, to come down like the stick. My next impression 
was of a rather prickly nature, as, luckily for my bones, if unfor- 
tunately for my flesh, I found myself uncomfortably seated in the 
centre of a huge furze-bush growing by the roadside. Directly I 
escaped from the thorns I ran to the door of the coach, and, after 
extracting a stout old female whom we had only taken up a moment 
or two before the accident, saw Lucy lying, apparently insensible,, 
on the lower side of the capsised vehicle. Directly that bunchy old 
party was out of the way, I crept inside the coach, and raised her 
prostrate form in my arms. As consciousness returned to her, our 
eyes met, and were then averted in mutual embarrassment ; but I 
fancied that a ray of pleasure stole into her glance, and that she 
did not look upon my assistance as the ordinary help of a stranger. 
The half-averted face turned full upon me, the softness of the 
drooping orbs becjtne changed, and she exclaimed — 

" What has hap^^ened ? Let me go, sir. Do not hold me so 
tight." 

I felt loath to part wiin that slender yet beautifully-developed 
form, but, the horses beginning to kick and plunge, I at once helped 
her out of the coach. The cause of the break-down was explained 
by one of the fore-wheels lying in the road. We found the con- 
ductor attending to his insensible driver, and perfectly oblivious tO' 
the torrent of abuse being lavished on him by the disconsolate old 
party we had first extricated, and who was bitterly lamenting the 
untimely fate of a large basket-full of eggs. 

As evidently nothing could be done without assistance to repair 



The Black Pirate. 231 



or right the vehicle, after helping to release the horses I offered my 
arm to Lucy, and we walked forward towards Leytonstone, where 
the required assistance would be found. We left the conductor to 
look after coach and driver, whilst that vociferous British female 
remained to bully him. It was the last we saw of her ; for all I 
know to the contrary, she may yet be there, bewailing the loss of 
her eggs. 

From Leytonstone we went on to London by another coach, 
and, before ending the journey, had become capital friends. The 
fact that she was one of the Simooms destined passengers, and I 
one of that good ship's officers, afforded us ample material for 
wonder, satisfaction, and conversation. I left her at the door of 
Lady Murray's residence. She came on board with the rest of 
the passengers at Gravesend. Long before arriving within sight of 
Madagascar and the " Black Pirate," we had confessed our love — 
confessed it often, whilst hand in hand together, lulled by the 
pleasing murmur of the rippling waters, and subdued by the glorious 
splendour of the starlit tropical skies. But it was the pirate adventure 
that sealed our engagement, by discovering it to her who, we had 
feared, would not approve our plans. 

As for the " Black Pirate," we never saw her more, neither did 
any one else, for she was never heard of again. After I had been 
carried below, the engagement was continued by our captain chasing 
the pirate, pouring in broadside after broadside of double-shotted 
guns to try and sink her, until the increasing gale compelled him to 
attend only to the safety of his own ship. But several of our best- 
sighted tars afterwards solemnly avowed that they had seen her go 
down head-foremost in the distance, not ten minutes after we fired 
our last gun. Considering that no rumours were ever again rife as 



232 The L^og of the Fortuna. 



to the existence of that once much-dreaded buccaneer, there seems 
no reason to doubt the truth of their statement ; especially as our 
gunner affirmed, in an equally positive manner, that he had given 
her no less than fourteen shots between wind and water (all from the 
formidable " Long Tom " our captain's foresight had made us rig up 
amidships), and as the heavy gale that separated us must have 
severely tested her, if so badly injured. 

Lady Murray kept her promise. She did accompany Lucy and 
myself to church, before twelve o'clock, and on the first fine day after 
our arrival at Calcutta. We returned to England, and I gave up the 
sea, for it had given me a treasure I valued far too much to ever risk 
losing by trusting to its changeful and uncertain moods, though I 
have ventured to return to the East this once ; but it shall be the 
last time, for all the property in the world shall never induce me 
to leave my darling Lucy again. 



THE LOG. 

Seven Bells, iili. 2)Om. pjn. — My friends greeted the conclusion 
of " my own yarn " with a perfect tempest of applause, and, as we 
drew up our chairs to the heavily-laden supper-table, extorted from 
me such further and minute particulars concerning the fair Lucy 
as I prefer leaving to the kindly imagination of my readers. 

" Keep it up, thin ! Keep it up, me boys ! " shouted the doctor, 
directly after supper. " Sure thin, where's the use of going to bed — 
* turning in,' I mane ? " — (he caught old Jack's indignant look, and 
corrected the unnautical expression.) " Let us keep it up till day- 
light ! Put it to the vote ! " 

" Hear, hear ! " roared Jack Backstay. 

"Now thin, me boys, all you who vote for keeping it up till 
morning just hold out your right hands." Up went every right arm 
in the assembly. " Hooroo ! Carried nem. con." cried the doctor, 
his eyes glistening with satisfaction, and his hair, like " quills upon 
the fretful porcupine," all standing up in his excitement. 

After the feast of reason and the flow of wit had lasted several 
hours, in conjunction with the flow of generous punch, beyond the 
grosser feast of supper, Mr. Lawrence proposed that we should finish 
up with another yarn. This occasioned some dispute as to who 
should be the narrator, the point being eventually settled by drawing 
lots for it, or, rather, "tossing," odd man out. Esmond was left in, 
and so to him fell the lot of spinning the last yarn — of ending, as well 
as commencing, our story-telling arrangement. Forthwith he gave 
us the following account of one of his seafaring experiences. 



€f)t ^rfiocner Shipper's ^^r^^uti ©anu 
CAPTAIN DOBSON'S REVENGE. 

AN ADVENTURE IN THE SEA OF AZOF. 

That good brig the Mary Jane, of Sunderland — of which vessel 
I had the honour to be second mate — having duly delivered her 
cargo of coals at the Austrian j)ort, Trieste, departed thence irb 
ballast, and shaped her course for Taganrog, a Russian port on the 
Sea of Azof This same Taganrog is a pretty large town, and a. 
famous grain port. The worst of it Is, however, that during at 
least two-thirds of the year it Is frozen up, so that such vessels, 
as arrive there late in the season, run a great risk of becoming: 
ice-bound during the whole of the long and dreary winter. 

The Mary yane did not grapple to Azof mud until the 3rd or 
4th of October, and at the end of that month the Ice generally begins, 
to set in. We lay, with other vessels, at a distance of twenty miles 
from the shore. In fact, Taganrog itself was not in sight, and we: 
only knew of our position by seeing all along the coast, far as the 
eye could reach, the various craft moored here and there about the 
extended anchorage. The position of the port was indicated by 
the lighthouse on a nasty reef of rocks, and by a range of high 
hills in Its immediate vicinity, though, as a rule, the great extent of 
shallow water terminated at an almost level beach of low, muddy^ 
marshy land. 



Captain Dobson's Revenge. 235 



Our captain was a tall, hot-tempered, sanguine-complexioned 
North-countryman, and being naturally anxious to escape a freezing 
delay of nine months, made many raids upon the peace and quiet of 
the slow -going, even-tempered agent he had selected — for he owned 
the Mary yane himself 

M. Petroplopsky, the gentleman referred to, lived in a large 
house, in a street with a perfectly, unpronounceable, even unspellable 
name, which formed the seaward view of Taganrog. 

Large flat lighters are used to load the shipping at the distant 
anchorage, and half-a-dozen of them had brought us off half our 
cargo, when bad weather came on, and for one whole day no signs of 
a lighter could be seen. This made the captain mightily wroth, and 
at daylight on the following morn he came into my berth, roused me 
from my sleep, and roared rather than said — 

" Come, turn out. Mister ! Get the long-boat rigged, and ready 
for a trip to the shore. Not a lighter is in sight. That infernal son 
of a sea-cook of an agent means to have us frozen in here — he does, 
sir — by Jehoshaphat, he does ! " 

Captain Dobson was a Primitive Methodist and a religious man, 
and never used bad language — wonder of wonders for a seafaring 
member of society ! Only when exceeding wroth or highly excited 
did he even use such inoffensive and strange expletives as the above. 
He never swore, and never allowed others to do so in his presence. 
At first he would seriously remonstrate with them ; then, if that did 
not do, quietly knock them down. I thought his plan original, ta 
say the least ; pretty successful, too, for blasphemous oaths and foul 
language seldom sounded abaft the foremast, nor before It either, 
when some weather-beaten old tar would say to his shipmates,, 
" Look out, my hearties, here's the ' old man ' coming for'ard ! " 



236 The Log of the Fortuna. 

In response to my commander's hail, I quickly sprang from my 
narrow little bunk, was dressed in a few moments, and then set to 
work at executing his orders. 

In a vessel such as the Mary Jane there are seldom more cats 
than can catch mice ; so only a boy could be spared to join me in 
composing the long-boat's crew. 

The hands looked rather doubtful and surprised when I turned 
them out to get the boat alongside, make ready her sails, fill up her 
water-beakers, and stow a small supply of provisions in the stern 
sheets, for the weather had a very lowering and threatening 
appearance. 

Away seaward a thick, bluish grey haze covered the horizon, 
and rested with a sickly tinge upon the water. Nearer overhead 
huge masses of inky-black cloud flew swift and fierce towards the 
land, over which they formed a dense, black barrier, through which 
the suppressed light of the rising sun shone with a weird, red, 
and lurid glare. The waters were of the same dark, leaden hue as 
such patches of sky as now and then might be detected between 
openings of the sombre clouds, and black, smoke-like wreaths of 
flying scud. The sea splashed against our bows, and rippled all 
around with a dull, melancholy, metallic sort of sound; whilst strange 
murmurs — strange whining and sobbing noises— echoed through the 
air. Everything betokened the near approach of elemental strife. 

However, I knew that nothing could shake the " old man's " 
determination when once he had made up his mind. So I did not 
say anything, but quietly put a couple of life-buoys in the boat. 

After snatching a hurried breakfast, the captain, myself, and 
the boy entered the boat, made sail, and set off for the shore. 

During the last two or three days it had been blowing a pretty 




THE LIGHTHOUSE OFF TAGANROG, 



Captain Dobson's Revenge. 239 

heavy gale, but since the last sunset the wind had greatly moderated, 
and the sea had gone down. So, in spite of the threatening appear- 
ances, we made rapid progress before a stiff, fair breeze. As we 
passed the lighthouse at a distance of less than a quarter of a mile, it 
was with no little astonishment that we beheld a female form upon 
the balcony at its summit, gazing out upon the storm, with her long 
hair streaming on the blast. However, the old grey lighthouse and 
its strange tenant were soon out of sight astern. In less than four 
hours we were safe alongside the quay, and Captain Dobson rushed 
fiercely off towards the unhappy agent's house. Scarcely, however, 
had he stepped ashore, when down came the full fury of the gale, 
and for several hours the storm-fiend did his worst, revellinof in 
the lightning and thunder, the furious blast, and the angry sea. 

After a time the "old man" came down to the jetty, accompanied 
by the agent, who made a queer figure, muffled up in furs, and so 
bothered by the fierce gusts of wind as to be quite unable to do 
anything, save take care of himself and hold on to his clothes. 

As it was quite impossible to attempt beating off for twenty 
miles against the gale, and with a small open boat, the captain tried 
hard to induce some Russian boatmen, who owned many large- 
decked fishing craft, lying moored along the jetties, to take us on 
board. But although he offered twenty-five pounds to any who 
would undertake the trip, not one dared venture. 

Towards evening the gale began to moderate, and the aspect of 
the heavens was such as to indicate that it would soon subside into 
a snow-storm. 

In spite of the agent's urgent entreaties that he would not 
venture out in the gale. Captain Dobson took his place in the long- 
boat, and commanded me to shove off from the quay and make sail. 



240 The Log of the Fortuna. 



He had transacted his business with the agent, and was naturally 
anxious to get back in charge of his ship before worse weather might 
place her in danger. 

The Russian boatmen jabbered together most vociferously, and 
shrugged up their shoulders at our, to them, foolhardy conduct ; 
whilst the agent stood wringing his hands, and calling upon the 
captain to return. But he settled himself down to the tiller, bowsed 
aft the main-sheet, and away we sped on the first tack, dashing and 
plunging through the angry seas with bumps that threatened to start 
every plank, but, nevertheless, making very fair headway under our 
reefed cutter sail. 

It was bitterly cold ; the salt spray kept dashing and beating 
upon us heavily, and it was terribly hard work beating up and 
handling the heavy long-boat against both wind and sea. 

As the darkness crept on, it grew yet colder, whilst the wind 
gradually fell, and, by the time we had made half the distance to the 
brave old Mary yane, the snow came on, and we could no longer 
find our way, for the different vessels became hidden in the whirling, 
eddying, thickly-packed, pure white flakes that fell so densely, so 
gently, and with such inexhaustible determination. As it was now 
impossible to find our vessel, all that we could hope to do was to 
see some other craft, on board of which we might obtain shelter for 
the night, or until the snow-storm had sufficiently abated to permit 
our proceeding in quest of the Mary Jane. 

Blinded by the driving spray and the thickly-falling snow-flakes, 
for nearly an hour we drove wildly on at the mercy of the winds and 
water, when suddenly the boy, whom I had placed on the lee-side to 
keep a look-out, cried — 

'* There's a vessel to loo'ard, sir. Here, we're close aboard her." 



Captain Dobs on' s Revenge. 241 

" Slack away the halyards," roared the captain, as he pushed the 
tiller over, and luffed up head to wind. 

I did so, and, as the sail came down, saw that we were close 
aboard a small vessel, of which, in another two minutes, had we held 
our course, we should have been right athwart hawse, when in all 
probability the boat would have been capsized either upon her cable 
or under her bows, and we should all have found a damp grave at 
the bottom of the Azof Sea. 

By lowering sail, and luffing head to wind, the boat quickly lost 
headway, so that we did not run out of sight of the vessel, and wind 
and sea gradually drifted us down alongside of her, as we put out a 
couple of oars to alter our position as necessary. 

Before getting alongside the xedec, Captain Dobson hailed her 
several times in tones sufficiently stentorian to have awakened Rip 
Van Winkle, and at length managed to elicit a reply from the drowsy 
fellow on anchor- watch ; but his words were of some strange, un- 
known tongue, so that we were unable to tell whether he gave us 
permission to come alongside or bade us keep off. 

In spite of our lost and uncomfortable position, I felt a strange 
and unaccountable aversion to take shelter on board the foreigner. 
Besides, the unknown language and the look-out man's reply had 
sounded harsh and disagreeable. The vessel's hull and spars loomed 
black, dim, and sinister through the white and thickly-laden atmo- 
sphere around. Perhaps these things affected me. A rope was 
thrown to us, we got on board the stranger, and, carrying up the 
end of the painter, passed our boat astern. 

By the dim light of a lantern held close to our faces, we were 
enabled to scan the very ill-favoured features of the look-out man 
and his captain ; the latter having, I suppose, been called on deck ti> 

Q 



242 The Log of the Fortuna. 

receive us. They were swarthy, black-muzzled, villanous-looking 
fellows, especially the captain, who scowled at us beneath his beetle 
brows, and made not the slightest attempt to treat us with the 
hospitality which had long been honoured as an indispensable custom 
at Taganrog : all vessels treating kindly the crews of such boats as^ 
from the extent of the anchorage, and distance to the shore, frequently 
became belated either by night or bad weather. 

By using what few words I chanced to know of that strange 
jargon, the " lingua Franca " of the Mediterranean, I ascertained 
that our inhospitable interlocutors were Greeks. So much for the 
modern representatives of glorious and classic ground ! 

We were marched aft, then the Greek captain pointed out to us 
the round-house over his vessel's wheel (an edifice In which Greek 
and Italian craft do largely rejoice). From the gesticulation to which 
we were treated, we derived the information that we could sleep there. 
We entered, and were left in total darkness, for the ill-natured and 
un-sailor-like lubbers would not even leave their miserable lantern 
with us ; but by-and-by I found out their reason for not doing so. 
Stumbling over small sails, coils of rope, swabs, brooms, buckets,, 
and such-like varied ship's paraphernalia, we seated ourselves in the 
dark, and munched the beef and biscuit, and drank the cold water 
that we had brought up out of the boat. 

Never before had I taken refuge on board a vessel in Taganrog 
roads, without having hot coffee and supper prepared for my party. 
Greeks, however, bear an evil reputation among sea-faring folk, and 
so we did not much wonder at our reception, neither did we growl ; 
but, directly the comfortless meal had been dispatched, spread our- 
selves out as well as we were able, and sought relief in slumber. 
Within half an hour the loud, healthy, trumpet-like snoring of my 



Captain Dob sons Revenge. 243 

captain, and the soft, regular respiration of the boy, told me that 
my companions were fast and sound asleep. 

As for myself, I could not close my eyes. Of a naturally restless 
disposition, my wakefulness was this night increased by the Inde- 
finable suspicion or presentiment with which I had become possessed. 
Moreover, I had noticed the keen glances darted by the Greek 
captain at the large " ditty-bag " (a canvas bag in which a sailor 
keeps his own tools, marling-spike, serving-mallet, sail-making im- 
plements, &c.), carried by our rough, unpretending, old-fashioned cap- 
tain, In place of a more pretentious carpet-bag or valise. I knew 
that, on this occasion, among other things, the " ditty-bag " contained 
a pretty large sum of money, the skipper having obtained sufficient 
from the agent to find all hands in funds for a couple of days' liberty 
ashore. I could not help wondering whether the Greek divined Its 
contents. He must have noticed that It seemed heavy, and that our 
" old man " took particular care of It ; besides, it was a common thing 
for captains to be returning on board their vessels with money from 
the shore. Then, again, I well knew the particularly unscrupulous 
nature of these modern Grecian mariners, many of whom either are, 
have been, or Intend to be, pirates about the Archipelago. This 
knowledge, combined with my suspicions, and the gloomy effect of 
natural causes, gave me a preternatural sort of Information and Intelli- 
gence, which told my excited senses plainly enough that we were to be 
robbed. If not murdered. I kept my fears to myself, not only because 
they might prove groundless, in which case I did not care to endure 
the ridicule of my shipmates, but because I knew that our sole chance 
to escape with life, if attacked, was by quietly submitting ; whereas, 
If Captain Dobson came to suspect such treatment, his impetuous 
temper would be sure to burst forth, though. If suddenly set upon» 

Q 2 



244 The Log of the Fortuna. 



he would most likely either be too surprised to resist, or else be over- 
powered at once, before he could inflict any serious damage upon the 
robbers, and drive them to extremities. 

I know not how long a time had elapsed during these gloomy 
forebodings, for they did not keep the bell going on board the Greek, 
when, on a sudden, I became aware that the door of the round-house 
was being opened. Softly and stealthily it moved, and, as the 
opening became larger and larger, I perceived that the weather 
had cleared, for the moonlight plainly showed me the dark shadows 
of several men. 

Slowly, inch by inch, the frail wooden thing that separated us 
from these midnight robbers was removed, though every now and 
then a stoppage occurred, as I saw the shadow nearest the door bend 
down in a listening attitude. No doubt convinced by our snoring 
and heavy breathing (for I now shammed sleep myself), the man at 
the door swung it quite open. Just then a ray of moonlight glittered 
like a streak of fire upon something in his hand. 

Softly and silently I put one arm behind me, and felt for a 
weapon with which to defend myself. But nothing could I find ; my 
hand came in contact with nothing but coils of rope. And now 
my heart was beating and palpitating with great heaves and throbs 
that could be heard, for the intruder was crawling towards me, knife 
in hand, and I dared not obey the promptings of fear by springing up 
to combat him or escape. No, I had to endure the terrible suspense 
of remaining perfectly still and quiet, shamming sleep, when I knew 
not whether the next instant would find his knife in my heart or merely 
his hand In my pocket. Fortunately, I had self-possession enough 
both to know that the latter was by far his most likely intention, 
and to remain perfectly quiet whilst waidng for the proof; but it 



Captain Dobson's Revenge. 



245 



was terrible work, and 
I felt the great beads 
of perspiration rolling 
down my forehead, 
cold as I had been 
but a few moments 
before, whilst every 
nerve thrilled with a 
keen and exquisite 
sense of mental agony. 
Never, as long as I 
live, can be forgotten 
the feelings that I ex- 
perienced during that 
lono^, long^ moment ! 

With a powerful 
effort I managed to 
restrain the almost 
irrepressible shudder 
that began to creep 
over my flesh as I felt 
the hands of the se- 
cret enemy upon me, 

I knew now why 
the wretches had refused to leave a lantern with us — they feared 
that it might keep us awake. 

By the faint light of the moon I had seen the dark form of the 
Greek captain bending over me, holding a long and formidable 
poniard between his teeth, whilst, with the adroitness of a practised 




THE GREEK CAPTAIN. 



246 The Log of the Fortuna. 



thief, he softly, almost imperceptibly, and rapidly ran his hands over 
my clothes and pockets. 

The pale light in the place contrasted with the lurid glare of the 
Greek's fierce black eyes. It was a dark, swarthy, ill-favoured face, 
and its cruel, ruthless expression told how little compunction its 
possessor would have had in cutting our throats. 

The tremor of my limbs, as I violently repressed the inclination 
to shudder, perhaps startled him ; for with one hand he suddenly 
snatched his dagger, and held the point within an inch of my throat, 
whilst with the other abstracting all the wealth about me — a sum of 
live roubles. (^) 

Then the infernal scoundrel passed on to the boy, found nothing 
there, and crept upon our captain. 

The head of the " old man " had slipped off his pillow — the 
"ditty-bag," into which the plunderer's hands were quickly thrust. 
He was there but one moment, then stepped quickly back, sprang 
lightly over me, and was out of the round-house, the metallic chink 
as he went telling that he had obtained the money. 

I waited some time, perhaps an hour, then went on deck. It 
was a fine nigrht now. The moon was hiofh and briorht in the heavens, 
and a leading wind between our vessel and the shore was blowing 
fresh and steady. I went forward to the Greek on anchor-watch, 
got him to help me, and hauled the long-boat alongside. Then I 
went back to the round-house, awakened the boy and captain, 
told the latter of the change in the weather, and hurried him into the 
boat without sfivingf him time to search his baof, which was care- 
fully deposited in the stern-sheets, minus the cash for which all 
the care was taken. 

(^) A Russian coin worth about three shillings and sixpence. 



Captain Dobson's Revenge. 247 

I waited until the Greek xebec was out of sight, and we were 
within half a mile of the good old Mary Jane, before telling the 
captain of his loss. At first he was furious, and repeatedly called 
upon the name of Jehoshaphat in vain ; but he soon agreed that 
by keeping quiet I had saved our lives, though he callec. upon the 
above-mentioned ancient Bible king to witness an oath that he 
would recover the money from the Grecian robber. 

It was about two o'clock in the morning when we crossed our 
vessel's gangway. 

"Call all hands, sir!" cried Captain Dobson, the moment we 
touched her decks. 

The men, astonished at so unexpected a summons, came running 
aft in every style of dSshabille. 

In few and forcible words their commander told them of his 
loss, and called upon them to support him in taking the law into 
his own hands, and recovering the money. 

A loud and hearty British cheer was the response. Arms were 
brought on deck, the Mary Jane was left in charge of the boy and 
the cook ; then all the rest of us, nine in number, went into the long- 
boat, and off we went in search of our noble Grecian. 

After an hour's sail we came to the spot where I expected to 
find her, for I had taken particular notice of her position, and had 
observed the bearings of several vessels in the distance, but she was 
not to be seen. Captain Dobson was furious at the thought that the 
pirates had fled, and gone clear off with his money. After cruising 
about for nearly an hour in vain, I happened to look up at the 
massive old lighthouse from which the gleaming golden rays came 
streaming through the darkness of the early morning ; the sight of it 
at once inspired me with a sudden thought. 



248 The Log of the Fortuna. 



" Captain," I said, " do you think the lighthouse people may 
have seen the xedec get under-weigh ? Perhaps she has only 
shifted her anchorage, for fear we might return to identify her." 

" Bravo ! That's right, my boy," replied the skipper. " Let us 
try, anyhow. 

It was with some difficulty that we managed to effect a landing 
upon the rock on which the lighthouse stood ; this accomplished, we 
at last succeeded in making the inmates hear us. A door about twelve 
feet above us was opened, and, a slight wooden ladder being passed 
down, we were enabled to enter the building and make inquiries. 

The female, whom we had seen revelling in absorbed contem- 
plation of the storm and tempest, proved to be the only daughter 
and companion of the old Greek mariner installed as keeper of the 
lighthouse. She was a handsome young woman, with pale, classic 
features, long raven hair, and deep-black, dreamy eyes. Very fortu- 
nately, we found that she had seen the xedec heave up her anchor 
and move towards a creek in-shore. The old man refused to leave 
his post, but his bright-eyed daughter, in the broken "lingua Franca," 
volunteered to guide us. Her offer was at once eagerly accepted by 
our " old man," who, however, seemed to have become dazed, as it 
were, in her presence. The rough tar had not often been brought 
into contact with such feminine beauty. Although her father seemed 
rather doubtful and uneasy, our solemn assurances, and the promise 
of a large reward, pacified him and obtained his consent. Descend- 
ing to our boat, the young woman guided us to the mouth of a small 
creek at the southern extremity of the bay, and there, sure enough, 
close in under the tall rushes of the bank, lay the object of our chase. 
There was no fear of any mistake, for I had taken particular notice of 
several peculiarities in her build and rig. 



Captain Dobson's Revenge. 251 

" Now then, my lads, are your arms all loaded, capped, and 
ready ? " asked the captain. 

" Ay, ay, sir," came in response ; and the click, click, clicking of 
musket and pistol locks followed, whilst cutlasses were unsheathed 
and gripped by brawny hands. 

*' Luff up, then, Mister Leachline ; luff up, and run her aboard," 
cried the " old man " to our mate, who was at the tiller. 

As we closed with the brig, he continued — 

" Now then, my hearties, don't forget what you are to do. 
Directly we get alongside, I and the second mate will make for 
the cabin, while all the rest of you — except Joe, who will remain 
in the boat and make her fast, and take care of the young woman 
— spring aboard the pirate, form a line across her decks abaft the 
mainmast, and keep her crew from coming aft. Mr. Leachline 
will command you." 

The next moment we bumped alongside, and were scrambling 
over the Greek's low bulwarks. 

The cordon was drawn across her decks, then I, the captain, 
and one of our men, who spoke Italian, entered her cabin, pistol 
and cutlass in hand. 

As we did so, a figure sprang from the port state-room, and fired 
a pistol full in our faces. 

" Cut him down, boys, cut him down ! " roared the skipper, 
whose go-ashore hat had been mortally wounded by the ball. 

I was nearest to our assailant, and before he could re-enter the 
"berth from which he had appeared, I disabled him with a pretty sharp 
•cut on the right shoulder, and then tumbled him over by dashing 
the hilt of my cutlass against his forehead. 

At the same moment Captain Dobson entered the starboard or 



252 The Log of the Fortuna. 



right-hand berth — in every vessel that of her commander — and caught 
sight of the Greek sicipper just getting up, aroused from his sleep by 
the noise, and attempting to hide the proceeds of the robbery he 
had committed earlier in the evening. 

The unfortunate wretch had just withdrawn the swollen leather 
bag from underneath his pillow, when the iron grip of our " old man " 
was upon him. He made a vain effort to get at his long knife, but 
Captain Dobson took care of that. Then, first securing his lost 
money in one of his capacious pockets, he seized the Greek by the 
nape of the neck and the hinder part of his scanty clothing, and so 
ran him up the cabin-stairs on deck. 

" Philee-ee-p ! " cried the piratical Grecian, as he went swiftly 
and unpleasantly through his cabin. 

But his cry for help only elicited a lugubrious groan, for 
" Philee-ee-p," his mate, was lying somewhere under the cabin table, 
holding on to his wounded arm. 

An extraordinary scene took place when we got on deck again. 
Handing over his victim for me to hold until he was ready. Captain 
Dobson stripped off his upper clothing, gave the bag of money into 
our mate's charge, and then told our man, who spoke Italian, to tell 
the Greek to stand up and defend himself. 

The fellow understood what was required of him well enough, 
and his black eyes glared ferociously as his right hand instinctively 
made futile movements to where, no doubt, he usually carried the for- 
midable stiletto, now safely stowed away in one of his enemy's pockets. 

" Come on, you parley- woo, long-shore son of a sea-cook ! " yelled 
our " old man." "Come on, will you, you murdering, piratical, inhos- 
pitable lubber ! Come on, till I take satisfaction out of your black, 
ugly, skulking carcase ! " 



Captain Dobson's Revenge. 



253 



As our skipper 
squared up to him, 
the wretched Grecian 
cast a orlance to where 
his crew were held 
completely at bay by 
the gleaming weapons 
of our men, then he 
sprang upon his anta- 
gonist, endeavouring 
to dash one fist in his 
face, and seize him by 
the throat with his 
other hand. 

The poor wretch's 
pugilistic knowledge 
was sadly at fault, and 
he received a sound 
thrashing. He lay 
still at last ; all resist- 
ance had been knocked 
out of him. 

" Well, you plun- 
derinor foreio-n vagfa- 
bond, I've given you 
fair play," said the 
'' old man ; " " now 
I'll teach you to be- 
ware of interferintT 
with a British skipper 




THK LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER'S DAUGHTER. 



254 The Log of the Fortuna. 



again, for you're not going to dodge punishment by lying down like 
that. Here, Jack, pass me the end of that main-brace." 

Dear, dear, what a rope's-ending that Grecian skipper did 
receive ! He must have been black, blue, and tender for a couple 
of months at least. Such a terrible flagellation I never saw before 
or after. He was almost naked, too ! 

At last Captain Dobson was satisfied, and ordered us into the 
boat. Before daylight we were safely on board the Mary ^ane, and 
things settled down again as though such an adventure had never 
occurred. 

Within a week we were loaded and under-weigh for Liverpool,, 
having heard no more of the affair. The Greek captain, no doubt,, 
had good reason for not troubling the authorities on shore. 

As the brig was his own property. Captain Dobson was able to- 
take her where he pleased, and I have heard that he went back tO' 
Taganrog more than once after the incident described ; there was 
a great and unusual attraction at that grey old lighthouse. I have- 
heard, too, that a Russian Finn is keeper of it now, and that its. 
former master, with his dark-eyed daughter leaning between him and 
a stalwart, fair-haired mariner, has been seen on board a certain 
British brig. Well, she was a good-looking girl. No wonder old 
Dobson thought it a capital opportunity to take a partner in the 
Mary yane. To see her in her smart native dress, which gave, 
perhaps, grandeur to a perfect figure, would have gone far to captivate 
a much more practised ladies' man than Captain Dobson. 



The Log. 



255 




THE LAST OF THE MUD-BANK. 



THE LOG. 

"The Log of the Forhma" is filled up. On the morning of 
January the 14th the brave little schooner floated (as owx Lowder had 
predicted) once more upon her native element ; and now we venture 
to cast her log-book adrift upon the troubled floods of literature, only 
trusting that all hands may be satisfied. 

That last evening — ^properly speaking morning — of the yarn- 
spinning was a jovial one. After supper was dispatched, and after 
the conclusion of Esmond's second tale, we sang songs till daylight 



256 The Log of the Fortuna. 

appeared, and the high tide floated the Fortuna off the mud-bank 
upon which we had spent so many days, that the proposed cruise 
had to be abandoned ; the doctor and Mr. Lawrence being anxious 
to return to their respective occupations, whilst I was now in a 
great hurry to get back to Manilla, settle the business there, and 
return to the bosom of my wife and family. 

Directly Esmond found that his tidy little craft was fairly under- 
weigh again, we had a parting glass all round, and then turned in to 
obtain a couple of hours' sleep before Ningpo hove in sight ; leaving 
the mud-bank to the fast rising waves of the Chinese seas, and the 
wild sea-birds diving after their breakfasts, eddying and gyrating 
rDund about the last uncovered portion of our late resting-place. 



THE END. 



CASSF-LL, FETTER, AND GALPIN, BELI-E SAUVAGE WORKS, LONDON, E.C. 



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6 



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Raggles, Baggies, and the Emperor. By 
Clara Matj^aux. 

Stories of the Olden Time. By M. Jones. 

Dick's Hero ; and other Stories. By Sarah 
Pitt. 

Illustrated, and containing Interesting Stories 
cloth gilt, IS. each. 

The Giant's Cradle. By S. T. A. Radcliffe. 

Shag and Doll. By L. C. Silke. 

Aunt Lucia's Locket ; and other Stories. 
By Ruth Mitchell. 

Among the Redskins. By the late W. H. G. 
Kingston. 

The Ferryman of Brill ; and other Stories. 
By the late W. H. G. Kingston. 

Harry Maxwell ; and other Stories. 

Magic Mirror, The. By the Author of "Aunt 
Tabitha's Waifs." 

The Cost of Revenge. By the Author of 
" Ned Wilton's Victory." 

Clever Frank. By the Author of " Maid Mar- 
jory." And other Stories. 

A Banished Monarch. By Jeanie Hering. 



Cassell & Company, Limited: London, Paris <& JVew York. 



Selections frojn Cassell 8c Company s Publicafinns. 



ILLUSTRATED VOLUMES FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE 

( Continued). 

The Library of Wonders, crown svo, cIoa, gUt edges, 2s. 6d. each. 



All Illustrated throughout. 
Wonderful Adventures. 
Wonders of Animal Instinct. 
Wonders of Architecture. 
Wonders of Acoustics. 



Wonderful Balloon Ascents. 
Wonderful Escapes. 
Wonders of Bodily Strength and Skill. 
Wonders of Water. 



Sixpenny Story Books. ah illustrated, and containing Interesting 

Stories by well-known Writers, including the late W. H. G. Kingston, Mrs. 

Henry Wood, Mary Howitt, &c. &c. In handsome coloured boards, 6d. each. 

Little Content. 



The Smuggler's Cave. 

Little Lizzie. 

Little Bird. 

The Boot on the Wrong Foot. 

Luke Barnicott. 

Little Pickles. 

The Elchester College Boys. 



The Boat Club. 

The Delft Jug. 

Helpful Nelly ; and other Stories. 

My First Cruise. 

Lottie's White Frock; and other 

Stories. 
Only Just Once ; and other Stories. 
The Little Peacemaker. 



The Child's Life of Christ, complete in one handsome Volume, 
with nearly 300 Illustrations. Demy 4to, cloth gilt, gilt edges, 21s. 

The Child S Olble. with 200 illustrations. Demy 4to, 830 pp. 125/-^ 
Thousand. Cloth, gilt edges, J[,x is. Cheap Edition, small 4to, price 7s. 6d. 

Mission Life in Greece and Palestine. By Mrs. emma 

Raymond Pitman. With Illustrations. Crown Svo, cloth gilt, 3s. 6d. 

Heroines of the Mission Field. By Mrs. emma Raymond 

Pitman. Illustrated throughout. Crown Svo, cloth, gilt edges, 3s. 6d. 

The Dingy House at Kensington, illustrated. Price 3s. 6d. 
Jane Austen and her Works. By sarah tytler. with steei 

Portrait and Steel Title. Crown Svo, cloth, gilt edges, 3s. 6d. 

Better than Good, a story for Olrls. with Four Full-page Illustrations. 
By Annie E. Ridley. Crown Svo, cloth, gilt edges, 3s. 6d. 

What Girls Can Do. By Phillis Browne. New and Cheaper 
Edition. Cloth, 3s. 6d. 

St. George for England ; and other Sermons 

preached to Children. By the Rev. T. Teignmouth Shore, M.A. Fozirth 
Editio?i. 5 s. 

The Three Homes. a Tale for Fathers and Sons. By F. T. L. Hope. 

Crown Svo, cloth gilt, 3s. 6d. 

The Romance of Trade. By h. r. fox-bourne. illustrated 

Crown Svo, cloth, 3s, 6d. 

Cassell & Company, Limited; Lo7idon, Paris & New York. 



Monfhly,~\ 
6d. J 



Little Folks, vt^'^r 



IjLX.U3TF(/.TED M/.QyV2;i]ME fOI^ QlRX^g AND BOY^. 



"Little Folks. —An excellent monthly." 
— Ti?nes. 

"Little Folks is as high in merit as it is 
wide in scope." — Daily Telegraph. 

' ' Little Folks aims not only at informing 
the young, but also at inducing them to become 
contributors." — Daily News. 

"Little Folks is charming alike in its 
engravings and stories." — Stattdard. 

"Little Folks is out of sight the best 
children's magazine we know." — British Quarterly 
Review. 

" Little Folks is at the head of English illus- 
trated magazines for children." — Queen. 

"Little Folks is one of the best, if not 
the best, of the magazines for children now 
published." — Atkencsum. 

' ' Little Folks is among the very best of all 
the numerous children's magazines that are now 
published. Many of the woodcuts are really quite 
charming little works of art." — Academy. 

"Every one ought to know by this time that 
Little Folks is the best magazine for the 
little ones which has yet appeared." — Graphic. 



"Little Folks disarms criticism. It is so 
admirably adapted to the purpose for which it 
was designed, that nothing but praise can be 
accorded alike to the matter which is provided 
for youthful readers, and the exquisite pictorial 
cuts." — Civil Service Review. 

"If any father of a family — of ages ranging 
from eight to fifteen years — knows how to spend 
sixpence a month in literature to better purpose 
than in "the purchase of Little Folks, we 
should be glad if he would enlighten us. Our 
verdict upon the volume cannot, in short, be 
better expressed than in the hackneyed formula, 
' No family should be without it.' " — Literary 
World. 

"The praise of Little Folks is among all 
the critics as THE PERFECT IDEAL OF A 
MAGAZINE FOR THE YQV^'&Q^."— Glasgow 
Mail. 

"Little Folks surpasses all competitors for 
thorough-going fun and real interest. It is a sort 
of book to make little eyes sparkle with delight 
when awake, and to set little minds dreaming 
pleasantly when asleep." — Sword and Trowel. 



*:^ The Half- Yearly Volumes of the Enlarged Series of LITTLE FOLKS 
each contain a Coloured Frontispiece, and nearly 500 Illustrations. 
Bound in Coloured Boards, 3^. 6d. each ; or cloth, gilt edges, ^s. each. 

" In the Volume of LITTLE FOLKS eveiy kind of topic which can interest every kind of 
juvenile appears to be dealt with, and we can perceive throughout tales of adventure and merriment, a 
wealth of pleasantly-communicated knowledge, and many a moral lesson presenting an unwonted aspect 
of cheerfulness. Pretty verses, comic sketches, and graver pictures, hunting narratives for boys, gentle, 
genial idyls for girls, with occasional larger type for the nursery, and music for the drawing-room, are 
amongst its varied attractions." — Public Opinion. 

CHEAP EDITION, price Is. 6d. 

The Little Folks' History of England. 

By IsA Craig-Knox. With Thirty Illustrations. 

" The author of this little History of England has evidently all the qualities for interesting young 
minds. She obviously understands the way of addressing little folks and gaining their attention, while she 
has avoided the opposite error of writing in a style too simple and childish to stimulate curiosity, or to 
encourage exertion. The illustrations are excellent." — Educational Times. 

^W To be obtained of all Booksellers, or post free from the Publishers. 

Cassell & Company's Complete CaJ^ogic^(^MjiingrMCJ^ist of Several 

Hundred Works, including — p| ^j J Q -^ ; 



Bibles and Religious Liter aticre. 
Childreiis Books. 
Dictionaries. 
Edttcational Works. 




Fine Art Volumes. 
Hajidbooks and Guides. 
History. 
Miscellaneous. 



: ZofMjn, F^i^&^New ^ofit. 



Natural liistory. 

Poetry. 

Serial Publications. 

Travel and Adventure. 



Cassell & CompuTW, ^Limited 




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